Biographie
While studying physiotherapy at university, David Will No was cast in The Huntsman (1993), a short film that captured the attention of action enthusiasts worldwide and was featured in several magazines. Directors John Woo and Peter Jackson praised David's performance, leading to his casting by Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Jackie Chan in the action-comedy Mr. Nice Guy (1997).
Despite completing his degree, David remained deeply involved in the entertainment industry. His primary passion was acting, which he pursued through extensive training at prestigious institutions such as the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney and the Ivana Chubbuck Studios in Los Angeles. Like many Australian actors, he took on guest and walk-on roles in various TV series, but his standout skill was his physical prowess.
Both of No’s parents were martial arts instructors; his father, Ke-Hyung No, introduced taekwondo to Australia, while his mother, Robin Marchment, was the country’s first female black belt. David represented Australia in both judo and taekwondo. His martial arts expertise led to collaborations with top professionals in projects including Jackie Chan’s Mr. Nice Guy, The Matrix Reloaded (2003), the Enter the Matrix (2003) video game, The Debt Collector, Cobra Kai, and many others.
Expanding his career into stunt work, No earned his Australian stunt qualifications and gained experience across all stunt disciplines, including body control, heights, fire, animals, water, and vehicles. He specialized in fighting, wire work, and precision driving.
David founded Furious Films, through which he began producing films. His skills as a screenwriter and action director quickly gained recognition, with Furious Films writing screenplays for other companies. The company won the annual pitching competition at the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA), leading to the launch of their projects at the Cannes Film Market.
Drawing on his Korean heritage, No became active in the Korean film industry, initially as an actor and commercial model. With his understanding of Eastern and Western filmmaking styles, he expanded into producing, working on Korean productions worldwide and collaborating with leading figures in the Korean film sector.
Throughout his career, No has honed his talents as an actor, producer, stuntman, and action director, frequently taking on multiple roles within a single project. This versatility has made him an invaluable contributor to numerous productions.
In 2006, No directed his own film, Forged, showcasing his wide range of skills and a distinctive style that brought fresh perspective to the genre. The film enjoyed success on the international festival circuit, earning awards for Best Director, Best Film, Best Costume, Best Music, and cinematography.
In 2008, David embraced opportunities to connect with his Korean roots. He learned the Korean language, produced films, TV dramas, and commercials, and acted in Korean dramas such as Three Days (2014) and Doctor Stranger (2014). He appeared as himself on popular TV shows like Cool Kids on the Block and Star English. During this period, he earned his 7th Dan black belt in taekwondo and 2nd Dan black belt in judo. He also directed the award-winning short film Battle of Wills (2016), which received honors including Breakout Action Star, Best Horror/Thriller, and Best Cinematography, along with several Best Actor nominations.
Returning to Los Angeles in 2016, David quickly began working on Altered Carbon (2018), training lead actor Joel Kinnaman and appearing in episode three. Since then, he has trained numerous actors in screen action techniques. He acted in and produced the indie feature Blindsided: The Game (2018), starred in Scott Adkins’ action film The Debt Collector (2018), and appeared in Sylvester Stallone’s Escape Plan: The Extractors (2019). While recovering from shoulder surgery in 2018, he contributed to the final season of Jessica Jones (2015) as Assistant Stunt Coordinator, stunt visualization filmmaker, and fight choreographer. Although based in the United States, David continues to work internationally as an action actor, stuntman, and filmmaker.
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