Iko Uwais Indonesian actor Date of Birth: 12.02.1983 Country: Indonesia

1. Childhood and Early Life
2. Pencak Silat and Competition Success
3. Film Career Beginnings
4. The Raid Duology and International Recognition
5. Hollywood Debut and Beyond
6. Commercial Success and Personal Life
7. Upcoming Projects

Childhood and Early Life

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia on February 12, 1983, Iko Uwais's birth name is Uwais Qorny. The young Uwais quickly developed a deep bond with his family. At the age of 10, he joined his grandfather's martial arts school, where he began training in the Indonesian martial art of pencak silat under the watchful eye of his uncle. Later, Uwais became a semi-professional football player, playing midfield for a B-division team. However, the team's bankruptcy forced him to rededicate himself to martial arts.

Pencak Silat and Competition Success

Uwais's dedication and his family's support paid off when he earned a berth in the top three at a Jakarta pencak silat competition, followed by the Indonesian championship in 2005. Concurrently, he worked as a courier for a telephone company.

Film Career Beginnings

Uwais's acting career kicked off in 2007 with a minor role in a documentary directed by Gareth Evans. Their encounter planted the seed for a future collaboration. In 2009, Evans returned to Indonesia with a screenplay for a feature film, casting Uwais in the lead role. The resulting film, "Merantau," marked Uwais's breakthrough on the big screen.

The Raid Duology and International Recognition

Evans and Uwais's successful partnership continued with the release of "The Raid" in 2011. Uwais played a prominent role in the film and served as its fight choreographer. Despite sustaining a knee injury and a nearly fatal machete strike, Uwais's performance earned him international acclaim. The sequel, "The Raid 2," showcased Uwais's versatility as an action star and earned him widespread recognition for his ability to perform complex fight scenes without stunt doubles.

Hollywood Debut and Beyond

In 2015, Uwais ventured into the realm of science fiction with a small role in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." He played Lieutenant Razoo Qin-Fee, a member of a group of smugglers allied with Han Solo. Despite the box-office failure of "The Raid 2," Uwais continued his acting career with the film "Headshot" in 2016, in which he portrays a vengeful assassin.

Commercial Success and Personal Life

Uwais's commercial success extended beyond action roles when he became the face of "Head & Shoulders" shampoo in Indonesia in 2017. His presence in the advertisement led to a significant increase in sales. In 2012, he married singer Audy Item, and they welcomed their first daughter, Atreya, in 2014. Uwais became a father for the second time in 2018 with the birth of his second daughter.

Upcoming Projects

Uwais maintains a busy schedule, with several projects in production and post-production stages. His upcoming films include "Mile 22," "Triple Threat," "The Night Comes for Us," and "Stuber." He is also set to star in and produce the television series "Wu Assassins," marking his debut as a fight choreographer and producer.