Martin Kove is the legendary and iconic actor from countless films, but most recently known for reprising his role from The Karate Kid in the hit series Cobra Kai.

His son, Jesse Kove, was raised on classic films and movie sets thanks to his father, and ever since he was around 10 years old has gotten into acting himself and has appeared on various TV programs and movies in Hollywood. Together, the Kove’s have formed a unique family duo, and are now combining their talents on a Western-themed comic book series.

Martin, your filmography is very impressive. More than 40 years in front of the camera! How do you manage to keep the same passion and to reinvent yourself every time?
Martin: The key is to work with good material. At this point in my career, I only want to take on roles that are on par with what I have done in the past. I’m more interested in vulnerable or exciting roles rather than just playing tough guys. Working with Jesse is a perfect example of that. It’s all about the material and finding something that I can share with my son. That’s what motivates me.

As a father, it is important to pass on your passion as a legacy to your children, which is a privilege and a matter of pride!
Martin: Without a doubt, Jesse has an edge over me. Besides his love for the acting, for the West and his professionalism, his integrity level is extremely high. Based on the reports I’ve received from people who have worked with him, he is known for his hard work and pleasant demeanor on set.

Despite being a good-looking guy, he does not let it get to his head and become an egotist. I used to make the mistake of wanting to be someone else, like Steve McQueen, instead of embracing my own unique qualities like Martin Kove. Jesse, on the other hand, plays his own character, Jesse Kove, without trying to emulate someone else. I am proud of the way he conducts himself, and our shared love for cinema and literature brings us closer. His positive qualities make him a better human being.

It’s also a special feeling since Jesse participates in the Cobra Kai TV show.
Martin: It was terrific to see him on Cobra Kai, especially since I had nothing to do with his casting. They just enjoyed his performance! The crew members were impressed by his performance, and they shared their appreciation with me even though I wasn’t on set that day. I was thrilled to hear the positive feedback. We have also worked together on a few Westerns, and when I see him performing in projects that I’m involved in, many of my friends, like Bruce Boxleitner, come up to me and say how great he was. Bruce is my friend and has no reason to flatter Jesse just because he is family. However, everyone comes back to me with positive feedback on how formidable Jesse is as an actor and how easy he is to work with on set. I enjoy hearing that. The entertainment industry can be tough, and it’s easy to create an unpleasant reputation for yourself, but Jesse is not a temperamental child. He’s very professional.

I hope that in future seasons of Cobra Kai, they employ my son, because his character, circa 1965, when we met him, was bullying me in a diner. That character can come back! And it would be really interesting, because they use everybody from the past, coming back, whether it’s from the movie or from the series. So it’s really exciting to entertain that. And I would push for that, because I think the first time the audience sees John Kreese being bullied, who is it? It’s my real-life son. So there’s an edge right there.