Steven Seagal is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action stars, gaining fame rapidly but living a life filled with both success and turbulence. Born on April 10, 1952, in Lansing, Michigan, Seagal’s family moved to Fullerton, California when he was five years old. From a young age, he developed a love for blues music and martial arts, two passions that would shape his future.
At 17, Seagal lied about his age to land a job as a dishwasher, where the chef, noticing his interest in martial arts, taught him karate. This sparked Seagal’s deeper commitment to martial arts, leading him to move to Japan to master disciplines like karate, judo, kendo, and aikido over 15 years. He earned black belts in each and became the first Westerner to open a dojo in Japan, a significant achievement in martial arts history.
Seagal’s dedication to martial arts was rooted in his belief that it was not just physical but spiritual as well. He explained that martial arts "should develop the physical man and perfect the spiritual self simultaneously."
Upon returning to the U.S., Seagal used his martial arts expertise to train Hollywood stars and later decided to pursue acting himself. His early work included films like The Challenge (1982) and Never Say Never Again (1983) with Sean Connery, where Seagal even broke Connery’s wrist during training.
Seagal quickly gained prominence, starring in over 50 films throughout his career, with Under Siege being one of his most iconic roles. Outside of acting, he also worked as a bodyguard for celebrities, including Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz, who helped launch Seagal’s film career.
In his personal life, Seagal’s relationships have been as eventful as his career. He has been married four times and has seven children. His first marriage was to aikido master Miyako Fujitani, with whom he shares two children, Kentaro and Ayako. He was briefly married to Adrienne LaRussa before marrying actress Kelly LeBrock, with whom he has three children—Annaliza, Arissa, and Dominic. Seagal’s marriage to LeBrock ended in 1996 after he had an affair with their nanny, Arissa Wolf, with whom he has a daughter, Savannah. Currently, Seagal is married to Mongolian-American dancer Erdenetuya “Elle” Batsukh, and they have one daughter together.
Reports suggest that Seagal's relationships with his children are strained, particularly with his eldest son, Kentaro, who revealed they no longer speak.
Today, Steven Seagal resides in Moscow, Russia, after being granted Russian citizenship in 2016. He works as a "special representative for Russian-US humanitarian ties" and reportedly moved to avoid paying a $200,000 debt. Despite his challenges, Seagal has a net worth of $16 million at the age of 69, though his appearance and lifestyle have significantly changed over the years.