Biography jim kelly

American athlete, actor, and martial artist

James Milton Kelly (May 5, 1946 – June 29, 2013) was an American athlete, martial artist, and actor. After winning several karate championships, Kelly rose to fame in the early 1970s appearing in various action films within the martial arts and blaxploitation genres.

Kelly played opposite Bruce Lee in 1973's Enter the Dragon, and had lead roles in 1974's Black Belt Jones as the title character and Three the Hard Way as Mister Keyes.^[2]

Early life and athletic career

Kelly's mother ran a locker-rental service for Navy personnel.^[3] Jim began his athletic career at Bourbon County High School in Paris, Kentucky, competing in basketball, football, and track and field.

He attended the University of Louisville on a football scholarship, but left during his freshman year after a coach referred to a black teammate with a racial slur.^[4][2] Instead he bega His own man: Jim Kelly, 1946-2013 | Features - Roger Ebert LIRAB