You probably remember the kid who could throw a roundhouse kick before he could drive a car. If you grew up in the 90s, Michael O Laskey II was basically the living embodiment of every playground fantasy. He wasn't just some actor playing a part; he was a legitimate martial artist who ended up in some of the most iconic "martial arts kid" roles of the decade.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a child star who actually has the technical skills to back up the choreography. Usually, you’ve got stunt doubles doing the heavy lifting while the lead actor just makes a "focused" face in close-ups. Not Mike. He was the real deal. From the Power Rangers universe to the 3 Ninjas franchise, his career is a weirdly perfect time capsule of that era when every kid in America wanted to be a ninja.
Michael O Laskey II Movies and TV Shows: The High Noon Era
The role most people recognize him for is Colt in the 1998 film 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain. Now, look, we have to be real here. By the time the fourth 3 Ninjas movie rolled around, the franchise was definitely leaning into the campy side of things. It featured Hulk Hogan and Jim Varney (Ernest himself!), which tells you everything you need to know about the vibe.
But for Laskey, it was a massive platform. He took over the role of Colt from Max Elliott Slade, and while fans are always split on cast changes, Mike brought a physical intensity that was hard to ignore.
The movie basically follows the three brothers—Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum—as they try to save an amusement park from a villainous "Medusa" (played by Loni Anderson). It’s peak 90s cheese, but Laskey's performance stands out because his movements are so sharp. He wasn't just "acting" like a ninja; he was actually performing the techniques.
Beyond the Ninja Mask: Power Rangers and More
Before he was a ninja on the big screen, he was a Ranger on the small one. Sorta.
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Laskey played Young Rocky (the Red Ranger) in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers sagas. This was a pivotal moment in the show's lore. When the Rangers were turned into children by Master Vile, Laskey stepped in to play the younger version of Steve Cardenas’ character.
- Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers (1996): He was a central figure during the "Zeo Quest," where the kid-versions of the Rangers had to travel across time and space to find the fragments of the Zeo Crystal.
- Star Trek: Enterprise: He made an appearance in the early 2000s, showing that he could transition out of the "martial arts kid" pigeonhole, even if only briefly.
- The Sensei (2008): A much more mature project where he worked alongside martial arts royalty Diana Lee Inosanto. It dealt with much heavier themes like bullying and social injustice, a far cry from fighting putty patrollers.
The Shift from Screen to the Octagon
It’s interesting what happens to child stars who actually know how to fight. Most of them just move into behind-the-scenes work or leave the industry entirely. Michael O Laskey II did something a bit different. He leaned into the "martial" part of his martial arts background.
If you look at his record, he actually transitioned into a legitimate Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) career. We’re talking about real fights in the cage, not choreographed sequences for a PG audience.
He competed in the SteelFist Fight Night circuit, even having a highly publicized "Rumble of the Rangers" fight against Blake Foster (who played the Blue Turbo Ranger). It was the kind of thing that sends nostalgia-obsessed Twitter into a total frenzy. He ended up becoming a highly ranked amateur in Utah, proving that those kicks he was throwing on Disney Channel and in theaters weren't just for show.
What’s He Doing Now?
Today, he’s not really chasing the Hollywood lights as much as he’s building a legacy in a different way. He runs the OMA: Ranger Academy in Utah.
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It's actually a pretty cool story. During the pandemic, when everything was shutting down, he used his "actor brain" to create a "Mr. Rogers" style show for his students so they could keep training at home. He basically combined his two lives—entertainment and martial arts—to help kids stay active when they were stuck inside.
He’s deeply involved in the Inosanto lineage (if you know martial arts history, that’s a massive deal—it links back to Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do). It shows a level of dedication that goes way beyond just being a "former child star."
The Legacy of Michael O Laskey II
When people search for Michael O Laskey II movies and tv shows, they’re usually looking for a hit of nostalgia. They want to remember the Saturday mornings or the rainy afternoons spent watching 3 Ninjas.
But the real story is the transition. It's about a kid who was told he was a hero on screen and then went out and spent the next thirty years actually mastering the crafts he was once just pretending to do.
He’s appeared in smaller projects like Sinners and Saints (2010) and even did some stunt work on The Book of Boba Fett, proving he still has a foot in the door of the industry. But his main impact now is through his academy.
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If you’re looking to dive back into his filmography, here’s how you should actually approach it:
- Watch the Zeo Quest arc of Power Rangers if you want to see the "origin" of his teen-idol status.
- Check out The Sensei for a look at his more serious acting chops as a young adult.
- Find his MMA highlights on YouTube if you want to see how those 90s ninja skills evolved into real-world combat.
Laskey represents a very specific niche of 90s culture. He was part of that wave of "super kids" that made us all think we could save the world if we just practiced our katas enough. Seeing him still active, still kicking, and still teaching the next generation is honestly one of the better "where are they now" stories in Hollywood.
If you want to track his current projects, his Ranger Academy is the best place to start. He’s active on social media there, often sharing training tips and bits of behind-the-scenes history from his days on set. It's a rare case of a child actor who grew up, kept his head on straight, and actually became the person he played on TV.
For anyone looking to follow in his footsteps or just understand the training behind the roles, looking into the Inosanto Academy's teachings provides the best context for the level of skill Michael brought to his movies.