David Worth obit

In Memoriam: DAVID WORTH, Director of Kickboxer and Cinematic Architect of Bloodsport, Dies at 86

 

He was not on the list.

The martial arts film community is in mourning following the passing of legendary cinematographer, director, and B-movie maestro David Worth, who died on September 7, 2026, at the age of 86. Worth leaves behind an indelible blueprint on the action genre, having served as the visual architect for Bloodsport (1988) and the director behind the global phenomenon Kickboxer (1989)

Leading the tributes was action icon Jean-Claude Van Damme, whose early career was profoundly shaped by Worth’s eye for combat choreography and cinematic style. “From Bloodsport to Kickboxer, David’s talent and vision helped create two martial arts classics that changed my life,” Van Damme shared in an emotional statement. “Thank you for your friendship and for the magic we made together. Rest in peace, my friend. You will always be part of my journey.”

David Worth didn’t just capture fights; he helped craft the aesthetic that defined late-80s and early-90s action cinema. His break into the upper echelons of martial arts lore came when he served as the Director of Photography on Bloodsport. His framing of the underground “Kumite” and stars like Van Damme and Bolo Yeung turned a low-budget feature into an international cult classic.

Recognizing his sharp instincts, production quickly tapped him to step into the director’s chair for Kickboxer (1989). Filmed on location in Thailand, Worth brilliantly juxtaposed the serene, rich cultural backdrops of ancient temples with the raw, brutal intensity of underground Muay Thai arenas. He was instrumental in managing the camera placements around Van Damme’s custom-choreographed fight sequences, helping to birth the iconic, slow-motion spinning kicks and grueling training montages that generations of martial artists still replicate today. Kickboxer is widely credited as the landmark film that popularized Muay Thai globally.

Beyond his legendary collaborations with JCVD, Worth was a relentless, passionate filmmaker who was deeply respected by actors and indie crews alike, Co-stars and crew members, including Kickboxer villain Michel Qissi (Tong Po), shared their pride in having worked with him. Up-and-coming filmmakers frequently remembered Worth as a deeply encouraging mentor who maintained an infectious, relentless passion for the craft even late into his career. Genre staple Cynthia Rothrockmourned the loss of her long-time friend, who directed her in the beloved action vehicles Lady Dragon (1992) and Lady Dragon 2 (1993).

Worth was incredibly versatile, handling cinematography for mainstream features like Clint Eastwood’s Bronco Billy (1980) and Any Which Way You Can (1980), while later directing cult camp pieces like Shark Attack 2 (2000) and Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002).

David Worth didn’t need massive Hollywood budgets to create cinematic magic. Armed with an innate understanding of lighting, timing, and raw human movement, he gave audiences timeless spectacles of honor, resilience, and triumph. While the maestro behind the lens is gone, his frame-by-frame contributions to action cinema will live on forever.

Cinematographer

Miss Verna Gray 2020

Cinematographer

2023

 

House at the End of the Drive (2014)

House at the End of the Drive

5.7

Cinematographer

2014

 

Headless Horseman (2007)

Headless Horseman

3.9

Cinematographer

2007

 

Honor (2006)

Honor

4.2

Cinematographer

2006

 

The Black Hole (2006)

The Black Hole

3.3

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2006

 

Man with the Screaming Brain (2005)

Man with the Screaming Brain

5.4

director of photography

2005

 

Bruce Campbell in Alien Apocalypse (2005)

Alien Apocalypse

4.4

TV Movie

director of photography

2005

 

Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys (2004)

Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys

3.9

TV Movie

director of photography

2004

 

Raptor Island (2004)

Raptor Island

2.5

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2004

 

Air Strike (2003)

Air Strike

2.2

Video

director of photography

2003

 

Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002)

Shark Attack 3: Megalodon

2.9

Cinematographer

2002

 

Dina Meyer, William McNamara, and Roy Scheider in Time Lapse (2001)

Time Lapse

4.2

Video

Cinematographer

2001

 

The Prophet's Game (2000)

The Prophet's Game

4.9

Cinematographer

2000

 

I Might Even Love You poster

I Might Even Love You

5.5

Cinematographer

1998

 

Hulk Hogan, Robert Vaughn, Grace Jones, and Todd Sheeler in McCinsey's Island (1998)

McCinsey's Island

3.4

director of photography

1998

 

All's Fair in Love & War (1997)

All's Fair in Love & War

3.2

Cinematographer

1997

 

Daniel Bernhardt, Beverly Johnson, and Miles O'Keeffe in True Vengeance (1997)

True Vengeance

5.0

Video

director of photography

1997

 

Cynthia Rothrock in American Tigers (1996)

American Tigers

4.1

Cinematographer

1996

 

Paper Dragons (1996)

Paper Dragons

4.5

director of photography

1996

 

Cynthia Rothrock in Lady Dragon 2 (1993)

Lady Dragon 2

4.3

Cinematographer

1993

 

Cynthia Rothrock in Lady Dragon (1992)

Lady Dragon

5.0

Cinematographer

1992

 

China Cry: A True Story (1990)

China Cry: A True Story

6.7

Cinematographer

1990

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Forest Whitaker, and Bolo Yeung in Bloodsport (1988)

Bloodsport

6.8

director of photography

1988

 

John Stamos and Vanity in Never Too Young to Die (1986)

Never Too Young to Die

4.9

director of photography

1986

 

The Night They Saved Christmas (1984)

The Night They Saved Christmas

6.5

TV Movie

director of photography

1984

 

Body Magic

5.8

Cinematographer (as Sven Conrad)

1982

 

Doing It!

6.4

Cinematographer (as Sven Conrad)

1982

 

Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can (1980)

Any Which Way You Can

6.1

director of photography

1980

 

Clint Eastwood in Bronco Billy (1980)

Bronco Billy

6.2

director of photography

1980

 

Frat House

5.3

photographed by (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

A Great Ride (1979)

A Great Ride

6.3

Cinematographer

1979

 

Michael Christian in Hard Knocks (1979)

Hard Knocks

4.0

Cinematographer

1979

 

Pink Champagne

7.0

photographed by (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

How Sweet It Is!

5.4

photographed by (as Sven Conrad)

1978

 

Hagen Smith in The Legend of Frank Woods (1977)

The Legend of Frank Woods

4.6

Cinematographer

1977

 

Seymour Cassel, Colleen Camp, and Sondra Locke in Death Game (1977)

Death Game

5.8

director of photography

1977

 

Slim Pickens, Shelley Winters, Ted Cassidy, Michael Christian, and Leslie Uggams in Poor Pretty Eddie (1975)

Poor Pretty Eddie

5.5

Cinematographer

1975

 

Marriage and Other Four Letter Words

7.0

Cinematographer (as Sven Conrad)

1974

 

Is There Sex After Marriage (1973)

Is There Sex After Marriage

6.2

Cinematographer

1973

 

Bloody Trail (1972)

Bloody Trail

3.8

Cinematographer

1972

 

To Hell You Preach

Cinematographer

1972

 

101 Acts of Love

4.9

Cinematographer

1971

 

The Flanders and Alcott Report on Sexual Response

5.4

Cinematographer

1971

 

Adultery for Fun & Profit

6.1

Cinematographer (as Sven Conrad)

1971

 

Director

Borrowed Time III (2022)

Borrowed Time III

5.9

co-director

2022

 

Quincy Taylor in Hazard Jack (2014)

Hazard Jack

2.7

Director

2014

 

House at the End of the Drive (2014)

House at the End of the Drive

5.7

Director

2014

 

Honor (2006)

Honor

4.2

Director

2006

 

Fists of Rage (2006)

Fists of Rage

directed by

2006

 

Air Strike (2003)

Air Strike

2.2

Video

Director

2003

 

Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002)

Shark Attack 3: Megalodon

2.9

Director

2002

 

Dina Meyer, William McNamara, and Roy Scheider in Time Lapse (2001)

Time Lapse

4.2

Video

Director

2001

 

Nikita Ager in Shark Attack 2 (2000)

Shark Attack 2

3.3

Video

Director

2000

 

The Prophet's Game (2000)

The Prophet's Game

4.9

Director

2000

 

Lorenzo Lamas, Diana Barton, and Scott Plank in Air America (1998)

Air America

4.6

TV Series

Director

1998–1999

8 episodes

 

I Might Even Love You poster

I Might Even Love You

5.5

Director

1998

 

Daniel Bernhardt, Beverly Johnson, and Miles O'Keeffe in True Vengeance (1997)

True Vengeance

5.0

Video

directed by

1997

 

Cynthia Rothrock in American Tigers (1996)

American Tigers

4.1

Director

1996

 

Michael Dudikoff in Chain of Command (1994)

Chain of Command

4.2

Director

1994

 

Cynthia Rothrock in Lady Dragon 2 (1993)

Lady Dragon 2

4.3

Director

1993

 

Cynthia Rothrock in Lady Dragon (1992)

Lady Dragon

5.0

Director

1992

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Michel Qissi in Kickboxer (1989)

Kickboxer

6.4

Director

1989

 

Soldier's Revenge (1985)

Soldier's Revenge

3.8

Director

1985

 

Warrior of the Lost World (1983)

Warrior of the Lost World

2.7

Director

1983

 

Body Magic

5.8

Director (as Sven Conrad)

1982

 

Doing It!

6.4

Director (as Sven Conrad)

1982

 

Frat House

5.3

Director (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

Michael Christian in Hard Knocks (1979)

Hard Knocks

4.0

Director

1979

 

Pink Champagne

7.0

Director (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

How Sweet It Is!

5.4

Director (as Sven Conrad)

1978

 

Slim Pickens, Shelley Winters, Ted Cassidy, Michael Christian, and Leslie Uggams in Poor Pretty Eddie (1975)

Poor Pretty Eddie

5.5

Director

1975

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Nikita Ager in Shark Attack 2 (2000)

Shark Attack 2

3.3

Video

director: aerial unit

2000

 

Get High on Yourself (1981)

Get High on Yourself

TV Special

second unit director

1981

 

The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977)

The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams

7.5

TV Series

second unit director

1977

10 episodes

 

Writer

Quincy Taylor in Hazard Jack (2014)

Hazard Jack

2.7

writer

2014

 

Cynthia Rothrock in Lady Dragon (1992)

Lady Dragon

5.0

original story

1992

 

Soldier's Revenge (1985)

Soldier's Revenge

3.8

screenplay

1985

 

Warrior of the Lost World (1983)

Warrior of the Lost World

2.7

written by

1983

 

Body Magic

5.8

written by (as Sven Conrad)

1982

 

Doing It!

6.4

Writer (as Sven Conrad)

1982

 

Frat House

5.3

written by (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

Pink Champagne

7.0

screenplay (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

Editor

Frat House

5.3

Editor (as Sven Conrad)

1979

 

Michael Christian in Hard Knocks (1979)

Hard Knocks

4.0

Editor

1979

 

Seymour Cassel, Colleen Camp, and Sondra Locke in Death Game (1977)

Death Game

5.8

Editor

1977

 

Slim Pickens, Shelley Winters, Ted Cassidy, Michael Christian, and Leslie Uggams in Poor Pretty Eddie (1975)

Poor Pretty Eddie

5.5

Editor

1975

 

Marriage and Other Four Letter Words

7.0

Editor (as Sven Conrad)

1974

 

Is There Sex After Marriage (1973)

Is There Sex After Marriage

6.2

Editor

1973

 

Bloody Trail (1972)

Bloody Trail

3.8

Editor

1972

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Bellifreschi (1987)

Bellifreschi

4.8

cinematographer: USA

1987

 

Dennis Quaid in Innerspace (1987)

Innerspace

6.9

director of photography: second unit

1987

 

Fred Ward in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

6.4

director of photography: second unit, Mexico

1985

 

Survival Run (1979)

Survival Run

4.7

additional photographer: motorcycle chase

1979

 

101 Acts of Love

4.9

camera operator: second unitlighting (uncredited, uncredited)

1971

 

The Jesus Trip (1971)

The Jesus Trip

5.3

camera operator: second unit

1971

 

Producer

The Shepherd Code: Lapierre (2026)

The Shepherd Code: Lapierre

6.3

associate producer

2026

 

Silvio Simac, Don Wilson, and Alan Delabie in The Shepherd Code (2024)

The Shepherd Code

5.1

assistant producer

2024

 

Until Dawn (2022)

Until Dawn

Short

producer

2022

 

Borrowed Time III (2022)

Borrowed Time III

5.9

assistant producer

2022

 

Black Widow

Short

executive producer

2014

 

Actor

Silvio Simac, Don Wilson, and Alan Delabie in The Shepherd Code (2024)

The Shepherd Code

5.1

Boss of the bar

2024

 

Radhika (2017)

Radhika

Short

Landlord

2017

 

Cynthia Rothrock in Lady Dragon 2 (1993)

Lady Dragon 2

4.3

Ring Announcer

1993

 

Seymour Cassel, Colleen Camp, and Sondra Locke in Death Game (1977)

Death Game

5.8

George Manning (voice, uncredited)

1977

 

The Skydivers (1963)

The Skydivers

1.9

1963

 

Additional Crew

The Big Muddy (2017)

The Big Muddy

8.3

TV Mini Series

technical consultant

2017

3 episodes

 

EIDETIC (2016)

EIDETIC

8.6

Short

technical advisor

2016

 

Contested Ground (2016)

Contested Ground

7.7

technical advisortechnical consultant

2016

 

Production Management

Is There Sex After Marriage (1973)

Is There Sex After Marriage

6.2

in charge of production

1973

 

Bloody Trail (1972)

Bloody Trail

3.8

production manager

1972

 

Adultery for Fun & Profit

6.1

in charge of production

1971

 

Thanks

Until Dawn (2022)

Until Dawn

Short

special thanks

2022

 

Katherine Park in Red Dress (2013)

Red Dress

Short

additional thanks

2013

 

Audition

Short

special thanks

2011

 

The Official "Little Wooden Man" Film poster.

The Little Wooden Man

8.9

Video

thanks

2010

 

Tick Tock Poster

Tick Tock

8.4

Short

special thanks

2010

 

The Justin Harvey Show! (2004)

The Justin Harvey Show!

Podcast Series

special thanks

2004

 

Self

International Cinematographer's Guild Heritage Series

Self

ReleasedTV Series

1991

1 episode

 

Sharksploitation (2023)

Sharksploitation

7.1

Self

2023

 

Van Damme: Split Personality (2023)

Van Damme: Split Personality

6.8

TV Special

Self - Interviewee

2023

 

The Justin Harvey Show! (2004)

The Justin Harvey Show!

Podcast Series

Self

2004

 

Hollywood Stuntmakers (1991)

Hollywood Stuntmakers

8.7

TV Series

Self

1991

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater (1987)

Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater

8.9

TV Series

Director (archive footage)

1994

1 episode