# Robert Mark Kamen
**Robert Mark Kamen** (born 1947) is an American screenwriter best known for creating *[The Karate Kid](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-karate-kid-franchise)* (1984) and its first two sequels, and for writing the [Luc Besson](https://www.edgepedia.org/luc-besson)-produced action films *The Fifth Element* (1997), the *Transporter* series, and *Taken* (2008). Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, he has more than twenty-five major motion pictures to his credit.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436543/) • [2](https://www.simonandschuster.co.in/authors/Robert-Mark-Kamen/250418514)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1947, the Bronx, New York City[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436543/) |
| Education | B.A. from New York University; Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania[3](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/) |
| First screen credit | *Taps* (1981), a military academy drama with early starring roles for Tom Cruise and Sean Penn[4](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_mark_kamen) |
| Signature creation | *The Karate Kid* (1984) and its sequels; the franchise later continued as *Cobra Kai* (2018–2025), credited to him as creator of the characters[6](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/252574-Robert-Mark-Kamen) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436543/) |
| Besson collaboration | Since the late 1990s, primary work for French producer-director Luc Besson: *The Fifth Element*, *Kiss of the Dragon*, the *Transporter* films, and *Taken*[4](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2) |
| Martial arts | Began studying Isshin-ryū karate with Ed McGrath in 1964; still practices kata daily[3](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/) |
| Other ventures | Owner of Kamen Estate Wines in Sonoma, California, since 1980[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/kamen-robert-mark) |
## Early life and education
Kamen grew up in the Bronx and earned a B.A. from New York University in literature and history, followed by a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.[3](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/) He began studying Isshin-ryū karate with Ed McGrath in 1964 and trained with him for five years; McGrath's lineage ran through Don Nagle to Shimabuku Tatsuo, the founder of the system.[3](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/) His writing career began in 1979 with the sale of his first screenplay.[2](https://www.simonandschuster.co.in/authors/Robert-Mark-Kamen/250418514)
## The Karate Kid
Kamen's first feature credit was *Taps* (1981), followed by *Split Image* (1982).[4](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2) • [6](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/252574-Robert-Mark-Kamen) Producer Jerry Weintraub had bought the rights to an article about a boy in Hawaii who earned a black belt to defend himself against bullies and found a mentor; Columbia called Kamen, who drew on his own adolescence, when he was bullied and took up martial arts to defend himself.[8](https://elpais.com/icon/2025-08-09/karate-kid-o-una-pequena-pelicula-que-no-importara-a-nadie-un-fenomeno-cultural-que-vive-40-anos-despues.html) He started writing the screenplay in June 1982, the day his first daughter was born, and finished it that September.[3](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/)
The crane kick was Kamen's invention, devised on the spot as an impossible feat for [Mr. Miyagi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mr-miyagi) to teach; he later acknowledged to [Sylvester Stallone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sylvester-stallone) that the film borrowed the structure of *Rocky*, and Columbia hired the same director, [John G. Avildsen](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-g-avildsen), and composer Bill Conti.[8](https://elpais.com/icon/2025-08-09/karate-kid-o-una-pequena-pelicula-que-no-importara-a-nadie-un-fenomeno-cultural-que-vive-40-anos-despues.html) Kamen wrote both sequels, *The Karate Kid Part II* (1986) and *The Karate Kid Part III* (1989), and received a story credit on the 2010 remake.[6](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/252574-Robert-Mark-Kamen) Decades later, the characters he created anchored the television series *Cobra Kai* (2018–2025).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436543/)
## Studio work and the Besson partnership
Through the early 1990s Kamen wrote or co-wrote *Gladiator*, *Lethal Weapon 3*, and *The Power of One* (all 1992), and *[A Walk in the Clouds](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-walk-in-the-clouds)* (1995).[4](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2) • [6](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/252574-Robert-Mark-Kamen) In the mid-1990s he also worked in the studio system as what he called a "script assassin," performing uncredited rewrites on major productions; his uncredited script-revision credits include *The Fugitive*, *Under Siege*, *The Devil's Advocate*, and *Lethal Weapon 2*.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_mark_kamen) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436543/)
The turning point came when Luc Besson brought *The Fifth Element* to Warner Bros. while Kamen was doing rewrites there; the two began a collaboration under which Kamen wrote scripts for films Besson directed or produced.[4](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2) To employ him, Besson became a signatory to the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement, paying fees appropriate to a top-flight writer, because he wanted an American sensibility in his films.[4](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2) The partnership produced *The Fifth Element* (1997), for which Kamen received Fennecus and Apex Award nominations in 1997, then *Kiss of the Dragon* (2001), the three *Transporter* films (2002, 2005, 2008), *Bandidas* (2006), *Taken* (2008), *Colombiana* (2011), *Taken 2* (2012), and *Taken 3* (2014).[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/kamen-robert-mark) • [6](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/252574-Robert-Mark-Kamen) • [9](https://www.fandango.com/people/robert-mark-kamen-337202/film-credits) The line "a very particular set of skills" from *Taken* is among his credited dialogue.[10](https://omny.fm/shows/the-richard-crouse-show/robert-mark-kamen-colin-james-duncan-fremlin) He later performed a page-one rewrite on *Angel Has Fallen* (2019), replacing the original [Air Force One](https://www.edgepedia.org/air-force-one) premise with a more character-driven take.[11](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/screenwriter-robert-mark-kamen-on-angel-has-fallen/)
## Wine, stage, and memoir
Kamen has owned Kamen Estate Wines, an organic vineyard in [Sonoma, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/sonoma-california), since 1980; the 2017 Sonoma fires started on his birthday and surrounded the vineyard, but the vines were untouched.[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/kamen-robert-mark) • [12](https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/movies-tv/article/Through-the-fires-screenwriter-Kamen-s-12407508.php) He created and executive produced the television series *Black Sash* (The WB, 2003) and co-produced *The Punisher* (1989).[7](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/kamen-robert-mark)
**Stage and print.** *The Karate Kid: The Musical*, with a book by Kamen and music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini, premiered in the UK before touring and heading toward Broadway; Kamen has said the show is his love letter to the Okinawan karate instructors who shaped him.[13](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Robert-Mark-Kamen/) • [14](https://stagesstlouis.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TKK-Release.pdf) He is also adapting *A Walk in the Clouds* as a stage musical.[3](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/) His memoir, *A Very Particular Set of Skills: From Weed and Warlords to Creating the Karate Kid and Taken — a Screenwriter's Journey*, is published by [Simon & Schuster](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-and-schuster).[2](https://www.simonandschuster.co.in/authors/Robert-Mark-Kamen/250418514)
## References
1. [Robert Mark Kamen, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436543/)
2. [Robert Mark Kamen, Official Publisher Page, Simon & Schuster](https://www.simonandschuster.co.in/authors/Robert-Mark-Kamen/250418514)
3. [Interview with Robert Mark Kamen, Screenwriter of The Karate Kid, BUDO JAPAN](https://budojapan.com/karate/20260612kk/)
4. [Interview: Robert Mark Kamen, Script Magazine (2008)](https://scriptmag.com/interviews-features/interview-robert-mark-kamen-2)
5. [Robert Mark Kamen, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_mark_kamen)
6. [Robert Mark Kamen, AFI Catalog of Feature Films](https://catalog.afi.com/Person/252574-Robert-Mark-Kamen)
7. [Kamen, Robert Mark, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/kamen-robert-mark)
8. ['Karate Kid' o "una pequeña película que no importará a nadie", El País ICON (2025)](https://elpais.com/icon/2025-08-09/karate-kid-o-una-pequena-pelicula-que-no-importara-a-nadie-un-fenomeno-cultural-que-vive-40-anos-despues.html)
9. [Robert Mark Kamen Filmography, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/robert-mark-kamen-337202/film-credits)
10. [The Richard Crouse Show: Robert Mark Kamen, Omny.fm](https://omny.fm/shows/the-richard-crouse-show/robert-mark-kamen-colin-james-duncan-fremlin)
11. [Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen On "Angel Has Fallen", Creative Screenwriting](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/screenwriter-robert-mark-kamen-on-angel-has-fallen/)
12. [Through the fires, screenwriter Kamen's vineyard love story continues, San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/movies-tv/article/Through-the-fires-screenwriter-Kamen-s-12407508.php)
13. [Robert Mark Kamen, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Robert-Mark-Kamen/)
14. [The Karate Kid press release, STAGES St. Louis](https://stagesstlouis.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/TKK-Release.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screenwriters and television writers › Film screenwriters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license