In 1991 Paramount Pictures saw what was going on with the sudden success of Warner Bros. action star Steven Seagal, as well as action star Jean Claude Van Damme. They turned to producer Mark DiSalle, who produced many of Van Damme's pictures,including "Bloodsport" and "Death Warrant". DiSalle gave Paramount Jeff Speakman who had made a brief appearance in Van Damme's film "Lionheart" (of which was practially a "Bloodsport" clone) as a security guard. Paramount rolled the dice, and what came out was a picture called "The Perfect Weapon"-a film heavy on stunts and martial arts cheography, (supervised by the late Ed Parker) and a plot that didn't take itself too seriously. The film also had a running time of 86 minutes. Speakman, who holds a 5th degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate and a 6th degree black belt in Goju Ryu karate had presense. He wasn't as wooden as Van Damme, and audiences noticed. However,the revenge plot-student seeking to find his mentor's killer-had been done a zillion times before, many of the characters were underused or underdeveloped; some of the flashback scenes, were ok-until they got to Jeff Sanders (the Speakman character) in his late teens. The actor looks nothing like the lead actor other than the hair and (maybe) the hieght.The only good thing out of it is that it sets up something that pays off later in the film-pole vaulting. The character of Jennifer (Marsika Hargitay, "Law &Order:Special Victims Unit") isn't given any lines whatsoever. Still, the film is known for its action and martial arts sequences.It's still watchable. Yet there scenes cut from the film that were restored in its TV broadcasts, mostly dealing with more of the flashbacks stuff.

The film itself failed at the box-office-more to the point,Paramount was hoping "Weapon" would do for them what "Above The Law" and Seagal did for Warners. and it underperformed. But "Weapon" found a bigger home on cable and video- still,Paramount dropped Speakman's repped 3 pic deal contract. I admit, I think it is a sham that on Paramount's videos when they promote thier action films library-with Bonnie Tyler singing "Holding Out For A Hero" from "Footloose" and not one rapid clip of "Weapon"...my personal view is that they coulda gave him a three second shot of him taking out some of the baddies in the Croc Pit or the Dojo fight. Still, the film is still a favorite among his fans. Also in the cast is John Dye ("Touched By An Angel" but you all don't forget to check out the first "Best Of The Best" either!),Mako, and James Hong ("Blade Runner").

Speakman's next film would not come until two years (!) later, another DiSalle produced action-drama called "Street Knight". This film has something of a plot-a group of ex-cops seeking to do a bank heist and pinning it on street gangs of who they try to play against one another with another former cop now car repairman Jake Barrett (Speakman) looking for a witness to one of the bad guys murder scemes. The only slight problem is that Barrett seems to be playing referee with the two gangs; one latino the other black. Hence,The Great White Hope. I'm sure its not intended like this-indeed,the real villians are white guys-but a lone ex-cop in L.A. holding two street gangs at bay is noble, but odd. The writer of the script saw this problem about halfway through-that's when the film picks up, with Barrett being framed and set up to die at the hands of the gang members he was trying to help and his former collegues as well. Plus there's the bad guys. And the climax is better than one might think-with some of the gangbangers going afterthe bad guys and watching Barrett's back,saving him,in effect. The two gangs also agree on a truce. It turns out to be a really good film but comes to a dead halt when Speakman... kills the main bad guy (Chris Neame) and quotes from "Terminator 2"!{"'Hasta La Vista Baby'-Schawarzenegger"} The result cheapens the film a little more than it should have.It was also Cannon film's last film release.And to my knowledge,DiSalle's last known producing credit.

Speakman's next appearance was on TV, doing a guest spot on the long running "Walker:Texas Ranger" starring Chuck Norris. Filmwise,a surprising thriller called "The Expert" which is chock full of notable supporting actors, including Wolfgang Bodison ("A Few Good Men") Elizabeth Gracen ("Highlander:The Series"),and the late Jim Varney ("Ernest")as a gun shop owner-mercenary. The downside?The main character,John Lomax, does NOT share any scenes with the Warden of the prison,played by James Brolin, who acts a bit more campy than he really needs to. Therefore,despite near equal billing,Speakman and Brolin are never onscreen together. Hmmm. Anyway, the plot here is original,to say the least-a serial killer murders the sister of a Special Forces/SWAT team instructor Lomax (Speakman) and is caught. Given the death penalty, the villian plays mind games with The Warden and other prisoners.He also pursues legal briefs and could be moved to another prison or getting off the Death sentence. Lomax hears about it, and decides to take revenge, breaking into the prison (and during a riot on death row,no less) and rescuing a few hostages and then a showdown with the killer.
Speakman would team up again with "Expert" director Rick Avery on his next film "Deadly Outbreak", a nice action film overall with the apparently mandatory "Die Hard" storyline tailored for all action stars that you can think of ("Under Siege" for Seagal,"Sudden Death"for Van Damme; Jeff Wincott had "Open Fire",Thomas Ian Griffith had "Crackerjack" Don 'Dragon'Wilson had "Bloodfist 4"...the list goes on...) Anyway, in this one,its a science lab facilty which does certain biochemical and biohazard expierments in Isreal.Dutton Hatfield (Speakman) is a U.S. Embassy First Sergeant who tries to put a stop the terrorists led by Baron (Ron Silver). Some nice lines-usually belonging to Silver.

In between films,Speakman appears in the TV film "Escape From Atlantis", sort of an oddity in the "Hercules/Xena" vein with Speakman playing a single father who has to find his kids kidnapped by the strange otherworld dimension inhabitants of "Atlantis"...

Next up for Speakman is a supporting performace or two-"Platos Run" starring Gary Busey, and the usual sci-fi B film "Timelock" where Speakman is the main villian (!) and he's up against the wits of Mayam D'Abo and Ayre Gross. There is a bit of villian rivary near the halfway mark between Speakman and Jeff Meek, but no payoff in it.Too bad.I recall Jeff Meek from the short lived TV shows "The Exile" (maybe you rerember CBS late nite series shows in the late 80's to early 90's "Crimetime After Primetime"?I also liked another series,"Sweating Bullets",and its theme song,"Any Way The Wind Blows(it blows right back to me)..." but thats a little off topic...) and "The Raven" where he played some sort of "American Ninja" type.Anyway, there's not so much as a hand to hand between Meek And Speakman. Rats. Budget,I guess.

The next film for Speakman was a nice little action film in space-"Scorpio One", directed by Worth Keeter.It co-starred Robert Carridine. Then followed "Memorial Day".also helmed by Keeter. "Day" is Speakman's worst film-mostly due to a hatched up plot weaved around "Scorpio" footage! Budget I guess.

Then came "Land Of The Free", a political thriller co-starring William Shatner. There was supposed to be a new TV series for Speakman,"The Consultants" with Rita "Sable"Moreno and Dennis Rodman (yes, that Dennis Rodman) but after only a handful of filmed episodes,the production company shut down due to backruptcy! Speakman has also had recent roles in B list action films, in the lead or in a supporting roles such as "Hot Boyz" where he plays a martial arts instructor; and "Running Red" where he played a former KGB agent (!) . In any case, I don't think Hollyood should give up on Jeff Speakman, he's better talent than B films. In fact, he is way underused and overlooked. I know my page here has been a little critical of the films he's done, but I at least have to give the illusion of being objective.

PICTURES:Pic#1(mural):"The Perfect Weapon"; Pic#2:"The Expert"; Pic #3:"The Perfect Weapon"(with James Lew,leg raised); Pic#4: "Street Knight"; Pic#5: "The Expert"(with co-star Elizabeth Gracen); Pic#6: "Deadly Outbreak"; Pic#7:"Scorpio One" (ad); Pic#8 (left):"Deadly Outbreak"(ad); Pic#9(below):"The Expert".

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-Darren