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THE CHAIRMAN
MARK
DACASCOS
The Chairman is portrayed by
actor and martial artist Mark
Dacascos, who plays the same
role on Iron Chef America.
The Chairman reveals the secret ingredient
and oversees Kitchen Stadium
Mark Dacascos has appeared in a wide
variety of feature films during the course
of his career. Among his credits are the
internationally acclaimed French epic
Brotherhood of the Wolf, Cradle to the Grave
in which he starred opposite Jet Li, Only
the Strong, in which he plays a capoeira
instructor, the global cult favorite Drive and
the indie film, Only the Brave.
Mark also starred in the period piece Nomad,
which was filmed in Kazakhstan over a twoyear
period.
His TV roles include Eric Draven in The Crow:
Stairway to Heaven and Eubulon, the Advent
Master, on Kamen Rider Dragon Knight.
He also competed in season nine of the US
version of Dancing with the Stars. His partner
was So You Think You Can Dance finalist
Lacey Schwimmer. The pair was eliminated in
the seventh episode.
Malia Bernal, was the first woman to grace
the cover of Black Belt magazine. Both are
former national champions who still teach.
Mark likens the energy in Kitchen Stadium
to that of a martial arts tournament. “The
energy in Kitchen Stadium during a battle
is amazing,” he says. “My parents are both
Kung-Fu teachers and I fought in Martial Arts
tournaments from the age of 7-18.
“The feeling that’s in the air before and during
a battle is palpable, and brings me right
back to my earlier years when I was the one
entering the ring.”
Mark is married to actress Julie Condra, who
starred with him in Crying Freeman. The
couple has two sons and a daughter.
At home he loves to cook for his family. “My
favorite dish to cook is my Aunty Gwen’s
banana pancakes. My kids expect me to cook
them banana pancakes every Sunday morning
and I love that they expect that from me.
This is Mark’s second trip to Australia. He
first visited our shores in 1996 to film The
Island of Dr Moreau with legendary actor
Marlon Brando. “I played his first son. We
shot in Cairns. It was an honour to work with
Brando, who arrived two weeks late so I
learnt how to scuba dive during that time. So I
thank him for my extra time here.”
Mark’s passion for Martial Arts began at an
early age under the tutelage of his parents.
His father, Al Dacascos, is the founder of the
martial art Wun Hop Kuen Do and his mother,
“It’s become our tradition. I love watching the
kids play, and show me their drawings, or
explain to me what they’ve built with Leggo
while I’m cooking in the kitchen.”
IRON CHEF