Mel Novak obit

Mel Novak

Dead at 90 

He was not on the list.

Mel Novak, the Hollywood actor best known for his starring role in Bruce Lee's classic "Game of Death," has died, his daughter Nikol Conant tells TMZ.

Novak died Wednesday morning at a SoCal board and care facility of natural causes, Nikol told us.

The iconic actor whose career spanned decades in Hollywood suffered numerous injures during his time in the biz ... 'cause he was known for doing all of his own stunts and fighting scenes. But, he was in pain daily -- especially the past few years -- from the beatings he took in front of the camera, Nikol says.

Novak is best known for playing the sharpshooting sniper Stick -- named for the matchstick he keeps in his mouth -- in the epic 1978 Bruce Lee film "Game of Death."

Novak was usually cast as the classic villain in most of his films ... and he has dozens of credits under his belt.

 

Novak is survived by his daughters, Nikol and Lea; ex-wife Vera Novak; and grandchildren.

 

He was 90.

 

RIP

Actor

Betrayal

Sally Boy Tovar

Pre-production

2025

 

Cadillac Respect

Rev. Dragan Mesaros

In ProductionShort

2026

 

Runaway Killer

Jack

Post-production

 

Space Sharks (2024)

Space Sharks

1.5

Steve Owens

2024

 

Lauren C. Mayhew, Mel Novak, Tony Todd, Vernon Wells, Deloris Evans, Vida Ghaffari, Jimmy Drain, Erika Monet Butters, Marc Bilker, and Caustic Scifidelic in Realm of Shadows (2024)

Realm of Shadows

7.0

Bishop Lucian

2024

 

Sally Kirkland, Mel Novak, and Gonzalo Martin in When It Rings (2023)

When It Rings

4.5

Hank Lancaster

2023

 

Mega Ape (2023)

Mega Ape

2.1

Mayor Huey

2023

 

Alana Evans, Mel Novak, Brinke Stevens, and Dustin Ferguson in The Beast Beneath (2023)

The Beast Beneath

3.5

Mayor George Reid

2023

 

Lynn Lowry, Robert Allen Mukes, and Dustin Ferguson in Hell of the Screaming Undead (2023)

Hell of the Screaming Undead

3.4

Governor Patrick Adams

2023

 

Big Freakin' Snake (2023)

Big Freakin' Snake

3.7

Commissioner Lewis

2023

 

Quakeasaurus

Roy Rollin

2022

 

Mel Novak, Shane Hagedorn, Jamie Bernadette, Jimmy Doom, Bret Miller, Fred Mossman, Erika Hoveland, Mason Heidger, Harley Wallen, Kaiti Wallen, Alex Gasparetto, Calhoun Koenig, and Angelina Danielle Cama in Ash and Bone (2022)

Ash and Bone

4.0

Bartender Louie

2022

 

Dustin Ferguson and Tony Newton in 5 to Die (2022)

5 to Die

Paul McCoy

2022

 

Lynn Lowry, Mel Novak, Jonathan Tiersten, Helene Udy, Maria Olsen, and Mike Ferguson in Last American Horror Show: Volume II (2022)

Last American Horror Show: Volume II

4.7

Moses

2022

 

Angel Princess, Dawna Lee Heising, and Llenelle Gibson in The Paradise Motel (2022)

The Paradise Motel

1.7

Raymond Taylor

2022

 

Kung Fu Drifter (2022)

Kung Fu Drifter

5.2

2022

 

Doll Killer 2 (2021)

Doll Killer 2

2.9

Dr. Krueger

2021

 

Ebola Rex (2021)

Ebola Rex

2.0

General Davis

2021

 

Apex Predators (2021)

Apex Predators

1.4

Robert Clouse Williamson

2021

 

Arachnado 2: Flaming Spiders (2021)

Arachnado 2: Flaming Spiders

Lieutenant Gallagher

2021

 

Mel Novak and Brinke Stevens in Ebola Rex Versus Murder Hornets (2021)

Ebola Rex Versus Murder Hornets

3.8

Lieutenant Gallagher

2021

 

Noel Jason Scott in Zombi VIII: Urban Decay (2021)

Zombi VIII: Urban Decay

1.6

Governor Hadley

2021

 

Mel Novak, Brinke Stevens, and Dawna Lee Heising in Rattlers 2 (2021)

Rattlers 2

4.8

Commissioner Lewis

2021

 

The Creeps 2 (2021)

The Creeps 2

5.1

Short

Dr. Challis

2021

 

Arachnado (2020)

Arachnado

3.6

Lieutenant Gallagher

2020

 

Shane Ryan-Reid in Banned, Exploited & Blacklisted: The Underground Work of Controversial Filmmaker Shane Ryan (2020)

Banned, Exploited & Blacklisted: The Underground Work of Controversial Filmmaker Shane Ryan

4.9

(segment "The Making of Samurai Cop 2")

2020

 

Tales for the Campfire 3 (2020)

Tales for the Campfire 3

4.2

Dr. Challis 'The Bitter Half'

2020

 

Scorpion Girl: The Awakening (2020)

Scorpion Girl: The Awakening

6.8

HVK Attorney

2020

 

Yan Birch, Scout Taylor-Compton, Mel Novak, Richard Tyson, Billy Wirth, Vida Ghaffari, Shane Hagedorn, Ken Alter, Erika Hoveland, Harley Wallen, Kaiti Wallen, Damien Chinappi, Calhoun Koenig, and Angelina Danielle Cama in Eternal Code (2019)

Eternal Code

3.4

Mr. Pomeroy

2019

 

Mel Novak and Craig Robert Bruss in The Match-Stick Flame Prologue (2019)

The Match-Stick Flame Prologue

Short

Match-Stick

2019

 

RoboWoman (2019)

RoboWoman

1.3

Dr. Michaels

2019

 

Suspense (2014)

Suspense

8.1

TV Series

Maj. Reg Denny

Richard Moresby

2016–2019

2 episodes

 

Tales of Frankenstein (2018)

Tales of Frankenstein

4.5

Dr. Mortality

2018

 

An Hour to Kill (2018)

An Hour to Kill

4.6

Mr. Kinski (segment "An Hour to Kill")

2018

 

Jeremy Miller in 3rd Eye (2018)

3rd Eye

7.2

TV Series

Senator John Crowley

2018

 

Scorpion Girl (2017)

Scorpion Girl

5.9

TV Series

Attorney Vitto Leone (2017)

2017

 

Nemesis 5: The New Model (2017)

Nemesis 5: The New Model

2.2

Red Army Hammerhead Leader

2017

 

Holy Terror (2017)

Holy Terror

3.1

Father Murphy

2017

 

Syndicate Smasher (2017)

Syndicate Smasher

3.6

Milan

2017

 

Last Convict Standing (2017)

Last Convict Standing

TV Series

Minister

2017

 

William Forsythe, Fred Williamson, Bill Goldberg, Ricky Harris, Kenny Johnson, Michelle Lee, and Mindy Robinson in Check Point (2017)

Check Point

3.2

The Reverend

2017

 

David Batchelor in Fight or Die (2016)

Fight or Die

TV Series

Montez

2016

1 episode

 

Rolan Bolan in Rolan Bolan: Children of the Revolution (2016)

Rolan Bolan: Children of the Revolution

Music Video

Mr. Stickley

2016

 

Kef Lee and Corum Sanford in Gangsters Incorporated (2015)

Gangsters Incorporated

7.3

Stick

2015

 

Mark Frazer, Mathew Karedas, and Tommy Wiseau in Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance (2015)

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance

3.5

Cutter

2015

 

Nickolas Nielsen and David Jonas in Critical Fumble (2014)

Critical Fumble

6.1

TV Series

Paxton's Father

2014

2 episodes

 

Hard Way Heroes

Super Fly

2010

 

Kill Factor (2010)

Kill Factor

8.4

Video

The Chief

2010

 

Thunderkick (2008)

Thunderkick

7.6

Video

Prophet

2008

 

Drifter TKD (2008)

Drifter TKD

5.4

Thomas Tyler

2008

 

Mel Novak in GiAnts (2008)

GiAnts

3.9

Video

Jonathan Caine

2008

 

Mel Novak and Barry Primus in Big Guns (2006)

Big Guns

7.3

Video

Larry Armstrong

2006

 

Pastor Greg (2005)

Pastor Greg

4.2

TV Series

Man with Dog

2006

1 episode

 

Ron Hall in Vampire Assassin (2005)

Vampire Assassin

1.6

Video

Gustoff Slovak

2005

 

Rebecca Ferratti, Olivier Gruner, Mel Novak, and Gerald Okamura in SWAT: Warhead One (2004)

SWAT: Warhead One

2.3

Video

Dick Danvers

2004

 

Rebecca Ferratti, Olivier Gruner, and Mel Novak in Power Elite (2002)

Power Elite

3.7

President Jonathan Caine

2002

 

Giants

6.2

Video Game

Professor Caine

2000

 

The F-Zone (1997)

The F-Zone

5.7

Priest

1997

 

Moonbase (1997)

Moonbase

3.8

Guard

1997

 

Pocket Ninjas (1997)

Pocket Ninjas

1.4

Video

Mr. Kaufman

1997

 

Daniel Bernhardt in Future War (1997)

Future War

1.7

Video

Otis - SWAT Team

1997

 

Greg Kinnear in Dear God (1996)

Dear God

5.5

Sidewalk Minister

1996

 

Dan Aykroyd, Dana Delany, and Rosie O'Donnell in Exit to Eden (1994)

Exit to Eden

4.3

Walker's Henchman

1994

 

Direct Hit (1994)

Direct Hit

4.3

Video

Kovar

1994

 

Joe Estevez and Ian Jacklin in Expert Weapon (1993)

Expert Weapon

4.8

Miller

1993

 

Capital Punishment (1991)

Capital Punishment

3.4

Mason Dover

1991

 

Buddy Daniels Friedman in Family Reunion (1989)

Family Reunion

5.0

Tom Andrews

1989

 

Force of Darkness (1985)

Force of Darkness

4.7

Conrad

1985

 

Sword of Heaven (1985)

Sword of Heaven

6.2

Major Dirk St.Jones

1985

 

Lovely But Deadly (1981)

Lovely But Deadly

4.1

Warren Lang

1981

 

An Eye for an Eye (1981)

An Eye for an Eye

5.5

Tony Montoya

1981

 

Joe Lewis and Richard Norton in Force: Five (1981)

Force: Five

5.1

The Assassin

1981

 

Tom Horn (1980)

Tom Horn

6.8

Corbett's Bodyguard

1980

 

A Force of One (1979)

A Force of One

5.1

The Announcer

1979

 

Pouri Baneai, Michael Dante, Peter Graves, and Curd Jürgens in The Tehran Incident (1979)

The Tehran Incident

3.0

Mendosa

1979

 

Cat in the Cage (1978)

Cat in the Cage

3.7

Ralph Desmond

1978

 

Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game of Death (1978)

Game of Death

5.9

Stick

1978

 

Jean Marie Hon and Terry Lester in Ark II (1976)

Ark II

6.8

TV Series

First Guard

1976

1 episode

 

Robert Blake in Baretta (1975)

Baretta

6.7

TV Series

Bartender (uncredited)

1976

1 episode

 

The Blue Knight (1975)

The Blue Knight

6.8

TV Series

Steve (as Mel Novack)

1976

1 episode

 

The Ultimate Warrior (1975)

The Ultimate Warrior

5.6

Lippert

1975

 

Virginia Hill (1974)

Virginia Hill

5.5

TV Movie

Stick (uncredited)

1974

 

Isaac Hayes in Truck Turner (1974)

Truck Turner

6.9

Doctor

1974

 

Jim Kelly in Black Belt Jones (1974)

Black Belt Jones

6.2

Blue Eyes

1974

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Elmo Bagley

1973

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Policeman

1971

1 episode

 

Jerry Lewis in Which Way to the Front? (1970)

Which Way to the Front?

4.6

SS Guard (uncredited)

1970

 

The Love-Ins (1967)

The Love-Ins

4.4

Intern Smith

1967

 

Producer

Toxic Tutu (2017)

Toxic Tutu

4.3

associate producer

2017

 

Dawna Lee Heising in Eye on Entertainment (2005)

Eye on Entertainment

7.7

TV Series

producer

2017

1 episode

 

Kill Factor (2010)

Kill Factor

8.4

Video

associate producer (as Milan Mrdjenovich)

2010

 

Thunderkick (2008)

Thunderkick

7.6

Video

associate producer

2008

 

Mel Novak in GiAnts (2008)

GiAnts

3.9

Video

producer

2008

 

Ron Hall in Vampire Assassin (2005)

Vampire Assassin

1.6

Video

associate producer

2005

 

Rebecca Ferratti, Olivier Gruner, Mel Novak, and Gerald Okamura in SWAT: Warhead One (2004)

SWAT: Warhead One

2.3

Video

associate producer (as Milan Mrdjenovich)

2004

 

Rebecca Ferratti, Olivier Gruner, and Mel Novak in Power Elite (2002)

Power Elite

3.7

co-executive producer (as Milan Mrdjenovich)

2002

 

An Eye for an Eye (1981)

An Eye for an Eye

5.5

associate producer

1981

 

Thanks

Alana Evans, Mel Novak, Brinke Stevens, and Dustin Ferguson in The Beast Beneath (2023)

The Beast Beneath

3.5

special thanks

2023

 

Big Freakin' Snake (2023)

Big Freakin' Snake

3.7

special thanks

2023

 

Ebola Rex (2021)

Ebola Rex

2.0

special thanks

2021

 

Apex Predators (2021)

Apex Predators

1.4

special thanks

2021

 

Arachnado 2: Flaming Spiders (2021)

Arachnado 2: Flaming Spiders

special thanks

2021

 

Mel Novak and Brinke Stevens in Ebola Rex Versus Murder Hornets (2021)

Ebola Rex Versus Murder Hornets

3.8

special thanks

2021

 

Noel Jason Scott in Zombi VIII: Urban Decay (2021)

Zombi VIII: Urban Decay

1.6

special thanks

2021

 

Mel Novak, Brinke Stevens, and Dawna Lee Heising in Rattlers 2 (2021)

Rattlers 2

4.8

special thanks

2021

 

Arachnado (2020)

Arachnado

3.6

special thanks

2020

 

Rebecca Ferratti, Olivier Gruner, and Mel Novak in Power Elite (2002)

Power Elite

3.7

special thanks

2002

 

Self

Cooking in with Joycelyne

Self

ReleasedTV Series

2015

1 episode

 

I'm Not Bruce

Self

In Production

 

Lynn Lowry, Craig Muckler, Mel Novak, Brinke Stevens, Frank M. Farel, Dustin Ferguson, and Joseph Williamson in Stale Popcorn and Sticky Floors (2023)

Stale Popcorn and Sticky Floors

5.3

Self

2023

 

Everybody with Angela Williamson (2020)

Everybody with Angela Williamson

TV Series

Self - Guest

2021

1 episode

 

Dawna Lee Heising in Eye on Entertainment (2005)

Eye on Entertainment

7.7

TV Series

Self

2016–2021

11 episodes

 

Dawna of the Darkness (2019)

Dawna of the Darkness

7.3

TV Series

Self

2019–2021

2 episodes

 

Bai Ling, Mark Frazer, Mathew Karedas, Laurene Landon, Mel Novak, Tommy Wiseau, Lexi Belle, Kayden Kross, Mindy Robinson, Zoey Monroe, and Cranston Komuro in Enter the Samurai (2020)

Enter the Samurai

5.6

Mel Novak

2020

 

Celluloid Slaughter (2020)

Celluloid Slaughter

2.9

Self

2020

 

The Universe Multicultural Film Festival in 2019 (2019)

The Universe Multicultural Film Festival in 2019

Short

Self

2019

 

EZ Talk Live (2013)

EZ Talk Live

TV Series

Self

2018

1 episode

 

Toxic Tutu (2017)

Toxic Tutu

4.3

Self

2017

 

MoreHorror in Hollywood (2011)

MoreHorror in Hollywood

4.4

TV Series

Self

2015–2017

2 episodes

 

LeagueOne: In the Spotlight! (2014)

LeagueOne: In the Spotlight!

8.6

TV Series

Self

2017

1 episode

 

Steve McQueen: American Icon (2017)

Steve McQueen: American Icon

7.1

Self

2017

 

A-List TV (2017)

A-List TV

TV Movie

Self

2017

 

Facebook Live with Ford & Vida (2016)

Facebook Live with Ford & Vida

TV Series

Self

2016

6 episodes

 

Martial Arts Mania

Video

Self

2015

 

Afternoon Delight Live on Hollywood and Vine (2015)

Afternoon Delight Live on Hollywood and Vine

7.3

TV Series

Self - Host (2016)

2015

 

An Intimate Look with Michelle Tomlinson

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Matthew Crouch and Laurie Crouch in Praise the Lord (1973)

Praise the Lord

2.5

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

The 700 Club (1966)

The 700 Club

1.8

TV Series

Self

1977

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Movie Nights (2010)

Movie Nights

7.6

TV Series

Mr. Kaufman

Gustoff Slovak (archive footage)

2010–2011

2 episodes