Memorial Tribute to Jim "The Dragon" Kelly, Co-Star of Bruce Lee's "Enter The Dragon"
MMA H.E.A.T. brings you this exclusive coverage of the special Memorial Tribute to actor and martial arts legend, GrandMaster Jim "The Dragon" Kelly. Hosted by Eric "LIONMAN" O'Neal on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, CA. GrandMaster Kelly died of cancer on June 29 at his San Diego home and was honored by martial artists from around the world at the memorial service, including: Bob Wall (Enter The Dragon), Gloria Hendry (Black Belt Jones), Fred "The Hammer" Williamson (Three The Hard Way), Robert Parham (5-time world kickboxing champion) and Freda Payne. Also in attendance was Jim Kelly's only child, his daughter Sabrena Kelly-Lewis.
During the 1970s, GrandMaster Kelly starred in multiple hit films including Melinda, Three the Hard Way, Black Belt Jones, Black Samurai, and Enter the Dragon with Bruce Lee. In addition to martial arts and acting, GrandMaster Kelly also served a professional tennis coach and champion.
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RIP Jim Kelly ... Who is still hear in 2020
2024. RIP Jim Kelly.
Jim kelly was an honest and humble human being RIP
Jim Kelly is the reason that I got into Karate Do. I watched his films as a Hispanic child and I just wanted to be like him. Now after 36 years of training the one thing I regret and make me sad Is that I never had the honour to meet him and thank him personally. Rest In Peace
I looked up to Jim Kelly, he was a formidable martial artist and down to earth. My condolences to his daughter. Hearing her story was pretty difficult.
Bob Wall said very nice words in paying "RESPECT" to our beloved Brother Jim Kelly 🙏🏾 RIP Bob Wall, you was a class act......RIP JIM "The Dragon" KELLY, thank you for inspiring the inner City youth 😔
Jim Kelly was a great pioneer for African-American Martial Artists to get into the martial arts film industry, especially starring alongside Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon. R.I.P. Jim.
A good person, martial artist and actor. He was a great man
Rest In Peace Sensei Jim Kelly all the way from South Africa! You have a lot of fans here!
I met jim Kelly last year at supanova, and he was the most down to earth celebrity I have ever met
RIP Jim Kelly (1946-2013) The coolest martial artist ever!
Jim Kelly got fans in India. May God keep you in peace Sir Jim Kelly.
RIP, Jim..In my opinion, Enter the Dragon wouldn't have been the same without you. In many ways, you stole the show. May your legacy and coolness live on.
u come right out of a comic book my man mr.williams R.I.P MY brother.jim kelly.
Eric Stewart Been practicing huh :)
R.I.P. I grew up idolizing both you and Bruce Lee.
RIP Jim Kelly, A TRULY GIFTED FIGHTER!
Jim Kelly was my hero when I was a kid and still today, he was a cool brother and a The International Karate middle weight Champion and a real inspiration to me , Rest In Peace Champ and icon ....👍🏾😊
Jim Kelly A Strong Black Man inspired me to study the Martial Arts! Thank You Master Sensei Kelly-RIP!
Tarius Shinobi THAT'S GREAT... I REALLY HOPE YOU GOOD AT IT
Jim Kelly was MY idol!!! I wanted to be like him after I saw 3 the hard way. RIP Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly was the coolest brother with a karate chop. Thanks Jim.
Jim the mann Thanks Him and Oakland CA 👍😂
❤ Jim kelly: karate champion & legendary martial arts fighter movie 🎬 maker actor
I always looked forward to watching Jim Kelly on TV back in the early 70's. Bruce, Jim, and Billy Jack were my early inspirations into the martial arts.
JIM KELLY , HAD HIS OWN UNIQUE STYLE , THAT WORK FOR HIM VERY WELL . AND THE AMAZING THING ABOUT HIM HE WAS ALWAYS HUMBLE & RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS . !!! . THIS MEMORIAL SHOWS THE LOVE ❤️ & RESPECT ✊ OTHERS HAD FOR HIM !!!! . R.I. P. MASTER KELLY . HOPE THE NEXT GENERATION LEAN FROM YOUR EXAMPLES . !!! . 😢💔😢👍❤️🌴🇺🇸🌴..
REAL TALK !
So true👑👑👑
Happy 71st B day Jim(May 5th) RIP
His Afro was on Point too!! RIP Master Jim Kelly RIP Master Lee
Rest in peace Mr. Jim Kelly. My condolences to his daughter and all of those who knew and loved him.
Jim Kelly my original hero!!! He came to my preschool Little angels in Los Angels this probably like 73 i was 5 then!! myself and my family saw him in the Sizzler on labrea. i kicked my sister in the arm to show him she smacked me. I was so inspired by Jim. To hear him speak and tell his story he was so down to earth i wish i could have been able to talk to him. I wish we could've got a picture back then wow. I took Martial art as a youth people always picking on me so i defended myself and Jim and Bruce were my inspirations. I even liked to play tennis ha!ha! A great man will always be remembered and honored..
Amazing you are very fortunate to have met him.i was in San diego in 2013..but didnt hear news..as i honestly didnt know his name.
RIP Jim Kelly, true legend
Jim Kelly was an incredible martial artist with such a unique style! I wish his role in Enter the Dragon was larger. He definitely made some other great films to watch - Black Belt Jones, Golden Needles, and the Tattoo Connection come to mind. I had the pleasure to meet and speak with him at the San Francisco Wonder Con. He was a great man, very gracious, friendly, and accommodating when speaking with us fans. He was a class act all the way. God bless and rest in peace, Grandmaster Jim Kelly. You are missed!
Man, you come right out of a comic book.
REST IN PEACE JIM. GOD WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY.
Jim kelly was my icon,rest in power brother.✊✊✊✊✌✌✌✌✌👍👍👍👍
RIP Jim Kelly "Mr. Williams!" My favourite line from Jim on Enter the Dragon, "Bullshit Mr. Han-man! :-)
I remember when I first met Jim Kelly in New Orleans at a tournament. My instructor, 5 time karate champion Robert Parham and Co panelist, haf introduced me to him. I'm like the man himself Black Belt Jones. An honor. Thanks Sensei for a wonderful introduction to a martial art Legend.
I remember his acting. He was really good. Loved the style!
Wow, that was powerful at the end. Jim Kelly you had a life that was very well lived. You won.
I did not know one of my favorite karate stars has past he was a fantastic actor Bruce and Jim maybe gone but their great movies will always live on.black jones and enter the dragon was my two favorites Rip karate champ.
2024 your'e still great Jim! I watch your movies daily....
RIP Jim Kelly.
R.I.P. Black Belt Jones!!!!
rip mr jim kelly. he was very talented and handsome as well.❤❤😊
R.I.P. To A Great Performer and Condolences to the Kelly Fam.
Jim Kelly, one of my childhood heroes.
Now watching Enter the Dragon on Sundance with Jim Kelly and Bruce Lee Awesome!!
I loved Jim Kelly
Still ❤ Jim kelly : legendary martial arts fighter & actor
He didn't have the career that he deserved. True legend. One love from France
The biggest crush on u mr Kelley R.I.P.
Loved Jim Kelly with his films in the 70's! What a great role model!...thank you for posting this Karyn.
My Men Jim Kelly Fred Williams was the heart thobs in the 70's. I was 11 years old. when 3 The Hard Way was released. My cousins snuck me into the theater to see the movie great movie. I miss him sleep well my friend from your fan.❤
Jim Kelly, Fred Williamson, Richard Roundtree and Jim Brown ALL came to my high school in Chicago back in 1983 to promote their movie 1 Down 2 to Go. During the Q&A I went to the mic and held up a picture of Jim Kelly and Bruce Lee standing together on the set of Enter the Dragon!! I said, "Mr. Kelly you can set the record straight...you stood next to this man, you got to know this man and you witnessed this man, you can tell us now was this man as good or better than everything that's been said or written about him". The auditorium erupted! He dropped his head laughing like, " I knew this question was coming". He said, "Yes, Bruce Lee was probably the greatest Martial Artist I'd ever seen. He was totally dedicated to training and had the fastest reflexes I'd ever seen". The crowd erupted again. I shook his hand afterwards but didn't, regretfully get a picture with him that I still regret to this day!!
Thank you Fred Williamson for sharing your Jim Kelly stories. Much respect to you and RIPPP Grandmaster Jim Kelly 💖
My older brother was taking karate in 70s when I first saw Bruce Lee in his first film, me and my brothas in hood loved Bruce, chiba, and Jim was just as big because he looked , acted, just like us. He, Bruce inspired me to take Marshall arts..just as Ali inspired me to take up boxing..Jim, Bruce, and Saxon who recently passed, left us with a great movie, that my son, who is 16, now, watched it a few times himself, and is currently a red belt.. So thank you Mr Kelly for inspiring the black kid from New Haven Connecticut, and others around the world. RIP and Power.
Very touching thanks for sharing Rip Grandmaster Jim Kelly RiP
Man, Jim Kelly is the MAN! All Day! Quote: “I’m too busy looking Good”!! Yes he was! Gifted, humble brother! HERO! RIP !
Rest in Paradise, Dragon Kelly
Rip jim Kelly I take my hat off to you sir
Yeah, real cool man...He is part of cinema history forever!
Three the hard way it was a great movie. I will miss Jim Kelly his career should have bigger than what it was.
A great man and a Legend. All that needs to be said.
Man of setting many goals too accomplish his goals to establish his name in the game he loved ..r.i.p.. Mr.kelly
REST IN PEACE JIM
Always love and miss you jim kelly ☯️
The Grandmaster may you continue to Rest In Paradise for Eternity✊🏿💪🏿✊🏿💪🏿✊🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Jim Kelly whenever he was ever interviewed was such a fantastic guy never ever said anything bad about anyone and even up to his last interviews always said Bruce lee was in a different level to anybody else and when you listen to Bob wall another kind hearted man praise jim it shows the bond they all had its amazing
Jim Kelly, a legend of the Martial Arts Entertainment. From Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon to a cameo appearance in NBA Legend LeBron James Nike commercial. Jim Kelly is a legend of Martial Arts Entertainment and acting in Martial arts Blaxplotation movies. RIP Jim Kelly and Bruce Lee. Legends never die. I rock a huge Afro like Jim Kelly.
Rip. 1 Big Love. God Bless.
RIP..man didnt know his name just loved watching him in Enter the Dragon..as a kid in 70s hyd,india..one of the best martial art Karade dude...70s the karate age ..backthen in 1977...only YMCA..Bruce Lee movies...Truly great black man..RIP
Legend! Respect!!!
RIP Jim.
If you like the legardary Bruce Lee, you gotta like the legendary Jim Kelly too. Jim Kelly is a true martial artist and a gentleman.
I know I'm late but I'm Sending my condolences to Jim Kelly's Daughter I felt the tears. This was Beautiful and Freda Payne who sang Band Of Gold back in the Day did a wonderful job singing 😍🌹
Man this breaks my heart. I can feel this pain. Enter the dragon has always been apart of my life.
Jim Kelly he was super cool and one my first African American actor to know. I loved him in Black Belt Jones and Enter the Dragon. We miss you 😢
*"Mr. Han, suddenly I'd like to leave your island." "It is not possible." "BULLSHIT MR. HAN, MAN!" "Maaan, you come right out of a comic book."*
I'm an emotional person my damn self when it comes down to a loss regarding someone I loved!!!
JIM KELLY ARE REAL BROTHER....2017
Thanks Jimmy I'll see you in Heaven My Friend!!
Rip Jim....respectttt to Bob Wall 🥲
Mr Kelly was the black Bruce Lee in my hood and we was Sooo PROUD when we would see a black man on the screen KICKING ASS👊👊👊 WITH A FRO BRO✊ RIGHT ON.
Thank you so much for posting this video
Rip Mr Kelly. Thanks for sharing.
I'm so happy to see Jim Kelly being honored, this is magnificent!! I feel fortunate to have shown my great respect and brotherly love to Jim with a short but memorable video, please watch my tribute video for a great man with whom we all miss and love. maurice
Mr. Kelly seemed by all accounts like a great guy, in addition to his talent and skills.
Rip master
A real respectful person and martial artist .
Very nice video, very well put together. Thank you for posting. maurice
thanks karyn!! bryant about the great Jim Kelly!!!!! Rip!!! bless you karyn!!!! love you!!!❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you very much for covering this Miss Bryant. I always thought that you were a great MMA reporter and the most honest with your personality but now you topped yourself because Jim Kelly was really a good martial artist and very humble man. Thank you again.
Kelly and Bruce sparring together again in that big sky......to martial art greats reunited again.
JIM KELLY WAS THE REAL BLACK DRAGON R I P. MY BROTHER.
Besides Bruce, this man stole the show for me🙌
Hello I love jame kelly's movies I wish the best for him
Jim Kelly is a legend
RIP
There are a lot of great people here!
Jim Kelly !😎
Jim kelly great super hero in his prime .
I hope the book he was writing gets published, even if it's incomplete. I would have liked to pick his brain on Bruce Lee. But then I would love to have gotten to know him. He seemed to be so cool and likable. This video brought tears to my eyes, having lost my dad years ago. RIP Jim.
JIM , THE DRAGON 🐉 KELLY !!!! . AND CARING , FRENDS ❤️.!!!!!!!! .THANK U 🙏🏾 , FOR YOUR COMMENTS & LOVE ❤️ .!!!!!! . R.I.P. , 🌴 . BROTHER 💖.!!!!!!!!. 🙏🏾☯️🙏🏾👍.......
My dude rip my brother
He was a talented and good looking icon.
Thank you for this post awesome post Karyn!