Mel Novak

• Name — Mel Novak • Birth Name — Milan Mrdjenovich • Born — 16 June 1934 • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 9 April 2025 • Place of death — Granada Hills, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1971–2020 • Children — 2

Born in Pittsburgh on June 16, 1934 to Serbian parents, Novak made his film debut in 1974, appearing in two blaxploitation films, Truck Turner starring Isaac Hayes and Black Belt Jones starring Jim Kelly that was directed by Robert Clouse that led to a part in Clouse's The Ultimate Warrior (1975) starring Yul Brynner. Cat in the Cage (1978) starring Sybil Danning, and others followed. One of his more high-profile parts from the 70's was as the hitman Stick in Game of Death (1978), again directed by Robert Clouse. Novak also had roles in two Chuck Norris films, A Force of One (1979) and An Eye for an Eye (1981). After the turn of the 1980's, Novak acted mostly in independent features, such as Lovely But Deadly (1981) for director/producer David Sheldon, starring B-movie heroine Lucinda Dooling.

In the 1990s, Novak appeared in two films for director Garry Marshall: Exit to Eden (1994), based on the novel by Anne Rice, and Dear God (1996). In 2005, Novak appeared in the action/horror film Vampire Assassin, also featuring Gerald Okamura, with whom Novak acted in several films, and Rudy Ray Moore. In 2008, Novak was inducted in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in London. In 2015, Novak had a prominent role in the action film, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance. In 2020, Novak had a role in the Leo Fong 2010 film, Hard Way Heroes.

Novak was also an ordained minister, known for doing celebrity funerals and memorials for the likes of Chuck Connors' son, Jeffrey Alan Connors, and Tim Burton's father, Bill Burton. He worked in skid row and prison ministry for over 39 years. He also had two daughters, Nikol and Lea, and three grandchildren from daughter Lea. Novak died at a hospice in Granada Hills, California, on April 9, 2025, at the age of 90.

• Film • Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1974 — Black Belt Jones — Blue Eyes • Truck Turner — Doctor — Alternative title: Black Bullet • 1975 — The Ultimate Warrior — Lippert — Alternative titles: The Barony The Last Warrior • 1978 — Game of Death — Stick • Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident — Mendosa — Alternative title: Teheran Incident • Cat in the Cage — Ralph Desmond • 1979 — A Force of One — The Announcer • 1980 — Tom Horn — Corbett's bodyguard • 1981 — Lovely But Deadly — Warren Lang • Force: Five — The Assassin • An Eye for an Eye — Montoya • 1985 — Force of Darkness — Conrad • Sword of Heaven — Dirk • 1989 — Family Reunion — Tom Andrews • 1991 — Capital Punishment — Mason Dover — Alternative title: Kickbox Terminator • 1993 — Expert Weapon — Miller — Alternative title: American Dragon • 1994 — Pocket Ninjas — Mr. Kaufman — Working title: Skate Dragons Alternative title: Super Sonic Pocket Ninjas on Wheels Foreign release title: Triple Dragon • Direct Hit — Kovar • Exit to Eden — Walker's henchman • 1996 — Dear God — Sidewalk Minister • 1997 — Future War — Otis • Moonbase — Guard • 1999 — The F-Zone — Priest • 2002 — Power Elite — President Jonathan Caine • 2003 — GiAnts — Jonathan Caine — Direct-to-DVD release • 2005 — SWAT: Warhead One — Dick Danvers — Direct-to-DVD release • Vampire Assassin — Gustoff Slovak — Alternate title: Vampire Assassins • 2006 — Big Guns — Larry Armstrong — Direct-to-DVD release • 2008 — Drifter TKD — Thomas Tyler • 2010 — Hard Way Heroes — Super Fly • 2015 — Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance — Cutter • 2016 — Enter the Samurai — Himself — Documentary on the creation of Samurai Cop 2:Deadly Vengeance • 2017 — Syndicate Smasher — Milan • Steve McQueen: American Icon — Himself — Documentary • Check Point (2017 film) — The Reverend • Holy Terror — Father Murphy • Toxic Tutu — Himself, Associate Producer • Nemesis 5: The New Model — Red Army Hammerhead Leader • 2018 — Tales of Frankenstein — Dr. Mortality • An Hour to Kill — Mr. Kinski • 2019 — Gangsters Incorporated — Stick • Robowoman — Dr. Michaels • Eternal Code — Mr. Pomeroy • 2020 — The Beast Beneath — Mayor George Reid • Tales from the Campfire 3 — Dr. Challis • Ebola Rex — General Davis • Ebola Rex Versus Murder Hornets • |2022 — Ash and Bone — Bartender Louie • Television • Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1971 — The F.B.I. — Policeman — 1 episode • 1973 — Mannix — Elmo Bagley • 1976 — The Blue Knight — Steve • Ark II — First guard • 2006 — Pastor Greg — Man with dog