Stay in Touch
Get news of Eugene’s Thomas’s appearences and activities by subscribing here.
Menu
EUGENE THOMAS
Actor/Martial Artist/Musician
In 1979, Eugene Thomas embarked on an incredible journey.
Chicago Actor/Martial Artist Eugene Thomas Trammell, aka Thomas Trammell (also billed as Eugene T. Trammell, Thomas Yau, Yau Jin Thomas, and Thomas Trannells), was one of thousands of moviegoers who were blown away by Chinese Kung Fu movies in the 1970s. He was also one of many who took up training in the martial arts, and one of the few to make it as an actor in the Asian market; embarking on an adventure as an American making Chinese Kung Fu movies in Taiwan. Mr. Trammell went on a decade-long journey that ultimately brought him away from the industry and into becoming a musician; another career path that was also inspired and fueled by his love for martial arts and spirituality. What’s fascinating about Mr. Trammell’s story is it goes much deeper than a man wishing to be a star in Kung Fu films, but a man wishing to learn about himself through the study of martial arts.
‘For Kicks’ premiered Sept. 17 at the Chicago Underground Film Festival;
For Kicks (2023),
a new film by Sean Fahey
starring Eugene Thomas
Filmmaker Sean Fahey details the life of action star Eugene Thomas in For Kicks, a feature-length documentary that premiered at the Chicago Underground Film Festival on September 17, 2023. Besides telling the story of an actor who scaled the heights of fame, Fahey also sheds light on a crucial era of cinematic history.
“It’s a moment in time,” he says. “The window was there.”
The “moment in time” is Eugene Thomas’s journey to success during the peak of a kung fu movie craze that began in the 1970s, as described by the actor himself.
Thomas began studying taekwondo in high school and took to it “like a duck in water.” He moved from Chicago to Taiwan when he was 23 years-old. He made a friend in a hostel who introduced him to some movie people who helped him launch a career that spanned the 1980s. He describes the experience as a “dream come true.”
“My mind was just focused on just one thing: headed to Asia to do films,” he recalls. “Opportunity presented itself.”
A handful of films in which Thomas co-starred during the 80s have been posted on YouTube and today they boast nearly 15 million views. With titles like The Super Ninja, Ninja USA and Shaolin Dolomite, they are mostly good guys fighting bad guys in extremely choreographed hand-to-hand combat. Occasionally, they lean towards ethnic stereotypes inspired by the Blaxploitation era.
Eugene Thomas as The Black Monk in The Final Duel (1982) Action Clips.
Play Video
Play Video
0:00
/
0:00
Maladu String
Tin Man
from The World's Greatest by Thomas Trammell. Released: 2006. Track 1. Genre: Religious.
Substance Groove
Mainstreet Productions (SGM)
Eugene Thomas is a fascinating and multi-talented individual who has made a significant impact in both the martial arts movie and music worlds. Initially, he achieved great success as a martial artist, winning numerous titles and accolades for his skills and achievements, appearing in over 15 Taiwanese martial arts film in the 1980s-90s. However, over the years, Eugene’s love of music began to grow, and he found himself drawn more and more towards jazz. Eventually, he made the bold decision to become a Jazz musician as did many ancient Taoist masters of martial arts who took up the arts to express the yin side of their characters. His passion and dedication to the physical side of martial arts has driven him to new heights of success and achievement in the spiritual realm of music.
Together with his wife, Lenora Trammell, they have started the music production company, Sustance Groove: A Main Street Production (SGM) providing smooth jazz music at clubs and events in the Chicago area.
For more information:
Email: substancegrove@gmail.com
Phone: 312.929.5908
