Date of Birth:
22 November 1967
Birth Name:
Erik Charles Betts
Nickname:
The Dalai Drama
Height:
5′ 9½" (1.77 m)
Mini Biography:
Born 22 November, 1967 in Boston, Massachusetts, Erik Betts is a self taught gymnast and martial artist since the age of 11. His fascination with movement and the arts was inspired by his favorite comic book hero, Spiderman. Insecure and very shy, Betts could relate to the problems experienced by Spiderman's alter ego Peter Parker. Erik was raised by his mother and grandmother, aunts and uncle. Erik got his film start in an ultra-low budget movie called, "Shootfighter" (1992). Long before television and moviegoers knew his face, children were watching Betts as the "Red and Green Rangers" on the unprecedently popular FOX TV series "The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers." Prior to that, Betts had small parts in a wide array of television, commercial and movie roles for a few years. Now a full-fledged stunt actor Erik then stunned television audiences as the suavely vicious "Panther" in "WMAC Masters" (1994). On March 14, 1996, "Panther" suffered a broken right hip and thigh during a taping of the show that took five surgeries and rehab of almost three years. Enlightened by his experience, Erik took a chance few others would dare, and put stunts behind him. Betts would be over 30 years old before finally deciding, relatively late in life (at 33), to try his chances at acting by enrolling at the Ivana Chubbuck Studios in California where he continues to study.
Trivia:
Competed on "Star Search" as lead singer. [November 1992]
His grandmother briefly had him study ballet at Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts.
Self taught acrobat and martial artist since the age of 11.
He is legally blind in his right eye.
Attended Cathedral High School in Boston, MA.
Competed on "American Gladiators" and won.
On March 14, 1996, Erik broke his right hip and thigh during a taping of a kids TV show, landing him in the intensive care unit for almost two weeks. It took five surgeries and almost three years of rehab five days a week to get him back in the loop again.
Coaches movement.
Was in a music group, Gentlemen of Distinction (G.O.D.) that opened for "Ready for the World", "Chico Debarge", and an unknown group at the time, "New Kids on the Block".
Was one of director Sam Raimi's choices for doubling actor 'Tobey Maquire' for Spider-Man (2002), but was told by the costume designer that his shoulders were too large for the costume
Has a tattoo of a black spider in the middle of his lower back
His first union feature film experience was a 2 day job as an extra in Garry Marshall's, Exit to Eden (1994) where he was bumped up to a 2 week principal performer w/lines, only to end up on the editing floor.
Son, with Melissa Barker, Jaden Isaiah Betts born. [11 September 2002]
His mother, who is a talented artist and singer, is heavily into the Native American lifestyle
First job back from hip/thigh injury of 1996-1999 was on the set of "Wild Wild West" where Erik was called in to train Oscar Nominee Will Smith.
Son, Jaden shot his first national commercial for State Farm Insurance at the age of 5 months with director Spike Lee.
Since 1989, has trained and consulted countless actors, dancers, gymnasts, martial artists, cheerleaders, and stunt people in Acrobatics and Film Fighting techniques he calls "Hollywood Kung Fu", in southern California.
At age 16, while still finishing high school, was a third shift airplane engine inspector for the CFM56 department of General Electric in Everette, Massachusetts.
Has a chow chow named "Precious" who on the day of her first birthday was hit by a car and broke her right hip and thigh costing almost 10k, one year before Panther's own 1996 accident.
Helped train Christian Bale for Batman Begins (2005)
He was born on the fourth anniversary of JFK's death.
Personal Quotes:
Before I studied acting, I simply reacted based on how I felt at the time. After I studied acting, simply reacting didn't feel like enough. Now that I understand acting, I simply react based on how I feel at the time.
I don't wanna be an actor… just a damn good re-actor.
[When asked about not getting "SpiderMan"]: This was going to be the end of my stunt career, and as Spiderman's biggest fan, no better way to end it. So, I eagerly lost 12lbs. in 6 days for the opportunity of doubling Tobey Maquire, who was 5' 7" and 155lbs at the time. Only to hear after they shot the film, that ALL the stunt doubles "broke something" in one way or another. Sometimes blessings come in NOT getting the job!
From Bruce Lee to Marlon Brando, Quentin Tarantino to George Lucas, or even Prince to Danny Elfman, all of them "took" from everyone to discover their niche, every last one of them. With one move, one look or even one note people know their work. But if you want to stand out, you'll have to learn to: see, accept, and embrace your true "self" to find your new voice. Its like what someone once said: "…if you take from one person, it's stealing, BUT take from everyone, and it's research!"
Where Are They Now:
(September 2002) Working title "Knightcrawler" now in production as "Squir-rel" action/comedy.
(July 2005) In production just finished shooting his acting debut in an independent feature titled, The Sensei starring Louis Mandylor, Keith David, Sab Shimono, Tzi Ma, Diana Lee Inosanto and Michael O'Laskey.
