Professor Tanaka
Charles ( Charlie ) Kalani, Jr. ( born January 6, 1930 in Honolulu, Hawaii; † August 22, 2000 in Lake Forest, California ) was an American professional wrestler, professional boxer, college football player, martial arts fighter and actor Hawaiian - Chinese descent. In wrestling he performed under the ring name "Professor Toru Tanaka ."
Private
Charles " Charlie" Kalani, Jr. was born on January 6, 1930 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father was Charles Kalani Sr., who came from Hawaii, his mother Christina Leong Kalani was half - Chinese.
At the age of nine years Kalani Jiu Jitsu began to learn. He attended Iolani High School and finally received an athletic scholarship as a tackle for College - Football at Weber Junior College in Ogden, Utah.
In 1952 he studied at the University of Utah met his wife Doris, whom he married in 1953 and with whom he had three children. In 1987 the couple divorced, however, came a few years later without marriage back together.
1955 Kalani was drafted into the army, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He remained until 1966 in the military, where he was stationed for four years in Nuremberg during this time.
After retiring from military service, he moved with his wife to Monterrey in California, where he managed a dojo. 1967 brought him the promoter Roy Shire for wrestling.
Kalani died on 22 August 2000 after a severe Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease to heart failure and had a funeral with military honors.
Boxing
In the years 1953 and 1954 Kalani denied five boxing fights in the heavyweight division.
Wrestling career
During his wrestling - you made a debut Japanese from him, as his Hawaiian origin the promoters not spectacular and evil seemed enough. In the late 1960s Kalani had some prestigious matches, including at Madison Square Garden against the then reigning champion Bruno Sammartino. With team partner Mr. Fuji together he played from 1973 to more than 100 matches, and they sometimes the WWWF World Tag Team titles were allowed to keep three. 1979 separated the team and also Kalani 's full-time - career tended to a close, he stepped on a while for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance and played his last matches between 1984 and 1986 for the World Wrestling Federation
Acting Career
Kalanis stature and martial arts experience made him also possible in some films to participate. He played for the first time in 1981 in the giant on the side of Chuck Norris and Christopher Lee. This other directors were aware of him and occupied him as a supporting actor in more than 30 movies and series. His best-known roles played at the Arnold Schwarzenegger's side in Running Man and Last Action Hero, but also in the popular series The A-Team, he was seen twice.