When you ask who played in Kung Fu, most people immediately picture David Carradine’s serene, high-cheekboned face. It’s an iconic image. He’s the half-Chinese, half-American Shaolin monk wandering the Old West with nothing but a flute and some serious kicking skills. But the history of that casting is actually messy. It’s a bit of a lightning rod for controversy that still sparks heated debates in film schools and on Twitter today.
Most folks don't realize that the show wasn't just a solo act. While Carradine was the face of Kwai Chang Caine, the series was packed with incredible guest stars and a rotating door of martial arts legends who basically built the foundation for how we see action movies now. We're talking about a show that ran from 1972 to 1975, a time when television was just starting to realize that audiences actually wanted to see something other than standard cowboy shootouts.
The Man Behind the Moniker
David Carradine wasn't a martial artist. Not at first, anyway. Before he landed the role of Caine, he was mostly known for being John Carradine’s son and doing some stage work. Honestly, he was more of a dancer than a fighter. This is a huge detail because it influenced how Caine moved. If you watch the show closely, his movements are fluid and rhythmic, almost like a ballet, rather than the explosive, snapping power you’d see from someone like Bruce Lee.
Carradine eventually dove deep into the philosophy and the physical practice. He became a huge proponent of Tai Chi and Qi Gong later in life. But at the start? He was just an actor with a very specific, calm energy that the producers loved. They wanted someone "ethereal."
There is, of course, the elephant in the room: Bruce Lee.
The story goes—and it’s been backed up by Linda Lee Cadwell—that Bruce Lee actually helped develop the concept for the show, which he called The Warrior. He expected to be the one who played in Kung Fu. Warner Bros. executives, however, were nervous. They didn't think an Asian actor could carry a lead role in an American prime-time series. It’s a classic, frustrating example of Hollywood's "yellowface" history, where they hired a white actor to play a biracial character instead of casting an actual Asian person. Tom Kuhn, who was a Warner Bros. TV executive at the time, has gone on record saying they felt Lee was "too aggressive" for the peaceful Caine character.
The Family Tree: Young Caine and the Master
The show relied heavily on flashbacks. You couldn't have the show without the scenes of Caine as a "Grasshopper" in the Shaolin Temple. This required a different set of actors to fill the shoes.
Radames Pera played the young Kwai Chang Caine. He’s the one who actually had to do the famous "walk on rice" scene without leaving a trace. Pera brought a certain wide-eyed innocence that balanced out the older Caine’s world-weary vibe. He wasn't a martial artist either, but he had to learn enough to look convincing under the tutelage of the temple masters.
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Then you have the masters. These were the heart of the show.
- Keye Luke as Master Po: You might know him as the grandfather from Gremlins, but in Kung Fu, he was the blind mentor who gave Caine his nickname. Luke was a pioneer for Asian American actors, having been the first "Number One Son" in the Charlie Chan movies decades earlier.
- Philip Ahn as Master Kan: Ahn played the more stern, philosophical head of the temple. He was a legendary figure in his own right, often cited as the first Korean American film star in Hollywood.
Seeing these two veteran actors on screen gave the show a weight it wouldn't have had otherwise. They brought a genuine gravitas that kept the show from feeling like a cheap gimmick.
The Legendary Guest Stars
If you look at the guest list for this series, it’s like a "Who’s Who" of 70s Hollywood and future superstars. Because Caine was a drifter, every episode introduced a new town and a new set of problems.
The guest stars included:
- Harrison Ford: Long before Star Wars, a young Ford appeared in the episode "The Rear Guard." He played a cynical, surly character that showed flashes of the Han Solo charm we'd all eventually love.
- John Carradine: David’s father actually appeared in the show as Serenity Johnson, a blind preacher. It was one of the few times they got to work together on a major project.
- Jodie Foster: A very young Foster showed up in "Alethea," playing a girl who witnesses a crime and has to deal with the moral fallout.
- Cannonball Adderley: Even jazz legends got in on the action! The famous saxophonist played a character named Trim in one of the more unique episodes.
It’s wild to think about the sheer amount of talent that cycled through that set. You had future Oscar winners rubbing shoulders with veteran character actors who had been working since the silent film era.
The Martial Arts Consultants
Since Carradine wasn't a fighter, the production needed someone to make the action look legit. This is where Kam Yuen comes in. Yuen was the primary martial arts instructor and stunt coordinator for the show. He was a master of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.
Basically, anytime you see Caine doing a particularly complex form or a sequence that looks technically precise, that’s Yuen’s influence. He often appeared on screen in various roles, usually as a challenger or a temple monk.
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David Chow was another huge influence. He was a judo expert and served as a technical advisor. He’s the one who helped ground the show’s philosophy, ensuring that the "Non-violence" aspect of Caine’s character stayed front and center. They didn't want a show where the hero just punched his way out of problems. They wanted a hero who really didn't want to fight, which made it all the more impactful when he finally did.
The 90s Revival: Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
We can't talk about who played in Kung Fu without mentioning the 1990s sequel series. David Carradine returned, but this time he played the grandson of the original Kwai Chang Caine.
Chris Potter played his son, Peter Caine, a police detective. This show moved the setting to a modern city, which was a huge shift from the dusty trails of the 1870s. It was a bit more "action-heavy" and leaned into the buddy-cop trope that was massive in the 90s. While it didn't have the same mystical atmosphere as the original, it introduced the character to a whole new generation who had never seen the 70s version.
Why the Casting Choice Still Matters
In 2026, looking back at the casting of David Carradine is complicated. On one hand, he gave a beautiful, nuanced performance. He made "Grasshopper" a household name. He brought Eastern philosophy into American living rooms at a time when that was virtually unheard of.
On the other hand, the fact that a Chinese-American actor like Bruce Lee—or even Mako or James Shigeta—wasn't given the chance to lead the show remains a sore spot. It’s a reminder of how much the industry has changed, and how much it hasn't. The 2021 reboot of Kung Fu on the CW finally addressed this by casting Olivia Liang as the lead, centering the story on a Chinese-American woman and her family.
The Stunt Doubles and Unsung Heroes
Most of the heavy lifting in the fight scenes was done by guys whose names aren't in the opening credits.
Stuntmen like Bill Ryusaki and Gerard Okamura were frequently on set. Okamura, with his iconic look and incredible skill with weapons, appeared in multiple episodes as different henchmen. These guys were the real deal—actual martial artists who spent their lives perfecting the craft. They were the ones taking the falls and making Carradine look like a master of the Five Animals style.
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The choreography was often a mix of different styles. Because it was TV, they needed "big" movements. Real Kung Fu can sometimes be too fast or too subtle for the camera to catch. They blended traditional Long Fist movements with more cinematic, sweeping kicks to make sure the audience at home stayed entertained.
Behind the Scenes: The Directorial Vision
Jerry Thorpe was the man who really set the tone. He directed the pilot and many of the early episodes. He wanted the show to feel like a "Western Zen" experience. This meant slow pacing, lots of close-ups on eyes, and a focus on the environment.
The actors had to adapt to this. It wasn't about "acting" in the traditional, loud sense. It was about stillness. Keye Luke and Philip Ahn were masters of this. They could convey more with a slight nod or a moment of silence than most actors could with a three-page monologue.
What to Do if You’re New to the Series
If you're just diving into the world of Kung Fu, don't just watch it for the fights. You’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting John Wick levels of choreography. Watch it for the performances and the weird, wonderful blend of genres.
Watch the Pilot First
The 90-minute TV movie that started it all is still the best entry point. It establishes the whole mythology of the Shaolin Temple and explains why Caine is on the run.
Look for the "Philosophy of the Week"
Each episode usually centers on a specific Taoist or Buddhist concept. Try to spot how the flashback to the temple connects to the "modern" problem Caine is solving in the West.
Compare the Styles
If you’re a martial arts fan, watch how the guest fighters move compared to Carradine. You can often tell who the "real" martial artists were by their footwork and how they carry their weight.
Check out the 2021 Reboot
For a completely different take, see how the modern version handles the same themes. It’s less about a lone wanderer and more about family and community, which is a fascinating shift in storytelling.
The legacy of who played in Kung Fu is a mix of ground-breaking television and missed opportunities. David Carradine became a star because of it, but the show's real strength lay in its ensemble—the masters, the stuntmen, and the legendary guest stars who helped bring the world of the Shaolin to life. It remains a landmark of television history, for better or worse, and a masterclass in how to build a lasting mythos.