The Untold Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of Philip Rhee: Hollywood’s Lost Martial Arts Star
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Philip Rhee seemed destined for martial arts stardom in Hollywood. Not just another action actor, Rhee was a real-life martial arts champion and the creative force behind the cult classic “Best of the Best.”
He was the writer, producer, and star—an underdog who fought to bring his vision to the screen. Backed by major studios and multi-million dollar deals, Rhee was on the verge of superstardom, with projects involving legends like John Woo, Oliver Stone, and the writer of “Die Hard.” But then, everything vanished almost overnight.
Rhee’s journey began in San Francisco, where he and his brother Simon trained in Taekwondo and Hapkido. By 1980, he represented the U.S. in the Asian Games, facing the best fighters from Korea—the birthplace of Taekwondo.
This experience, as a Korean-American caught between cultures, became the emotional foundation for “Best of the Best.” But breaking into Hollywood was tough. Despite his championship pedigree, Rhee was cast in stereotypical roles and bit parts, frustrated by the industry’s narrow vision.
Determined to change his fate, Rhee founded his own production company, SVS Entertainment. Inspired by his students’ questions about violence in martial arts movies, he set out to make a film that celebrated honor and respect, not brutality.
“Best of the Best” was born from his real-life experiences, and he cast himself as Tommy Lee, alongside Oscar-caliber actors like James Earl Jones and Eric Roberts. The film, released in 1989, became a sleeper hit—embraced by families and martial arts schools for its themes of redemption and honor. Sequels followed, and suddenly, Rhee was a proven Hollywood commodity.
But just as bigger opportunities beckoned, Hollywood’s unpredictability struck. Rhee was seriously considered for the lead role of Liu Kang in “Mortal Kombat,” but lost out to Robin Shou. A $9-million, three-picture deal with Village Roadshow evaporated when a new CEO changed priorities.
The most painful blow came with the “Ballistic” project—a martial arts epic with John Woo directing, Oliver Stone producing, and Steven E. de Souza rewriting the script. Studio politics, disrespect toward Woo, and a competing offer from Jean-Claude Van Damme’s team led Woo to choose “Hard Target” instead. Stone left the studio, and Rhee’s breakthrough project died before filming began.
Despite these setbacks, Rhee refused to be typecast as a villain or fade into obscurity. He directed and starred in “Best of the Best 3” and “4,” tackling ambitious social themes. Then, at the peak of his franchise’s success, he stepped away from Hollywood to raise his son, seemingly ending his career.
But Rhee’s story didn’t end there. In 2010, he reinvented himself, founding Stereo Pictures—a cutting-edge 3D conversion studio. He worked behind the scenes on blockbuster films like “Titanic 3D,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” and “Chronicles of Narnia,” helping revolutionize movie technology.
In 2015, Rhee returned to filmmaking with “Underdog Kids,” a family-friendly martial arts film. And in 2025, he shocked fans by announcing “Best of the Best 5: Honor the Brave,” reuniting with Eric Roberts and Simon Rhee.
Philip Rhee’s journey is more than a story of Hollywood rejection—it’s a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the refusal to quit. He built his own path, proving that true honor lies not in fame, but in perseverance and integrity. As Tommy Lee returns to the screen, Rhee’s greatest legacy is showing that sometimes the most powerful move is creating your own destiny when the world won’t make room for you.
