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Before Seagal stepped into the Hollywood spotlight, he found success as a martial arts instructor in Japan. His first real foray into the film business came in 1982 when he was recommended for the movie The Challenge as a katana fight expert. Not only did he choreograph fight scenes, but he also incorporated his students as extras.
Seagal's transition to Hollywood included choreographing fight scenes for Never Say Never Again in 1983. He caught the eye of powerful figures, notably Hollywood super-agent Michael Ovitz, who saw talent in Seagal and arranged a successful screen test. The industry quickly recognized him when he landed the lead role in the 1988 action film Above the Law, marking the start of an illustrious but short-lived career.