Stuntman Steven Ho Shares Stories Of Breaking Into Hollywood

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the multi-talented and kickass Steven Ho, whose credits include: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End," Conan," "Mortal Kombat," "Soundman," and "The Departed," just to name a few. We talk about everything from Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots to being discovered by Jet Li to the surprising weight of a ninja turtle half shell. STEVEN HO’S BIO Steven Ho was born in Indonesia, where his father taught at the University in Jakarta. At age four, his family immigrated to Los Angeles as political refugees. Ho began his formal martial arts training in Orange County as an adolescent, and excelled in Southern California’s very competitive karate circuit. Shortly out of high school and at his first National tournament, Ho was spotted by Jet Li and recruited into the stunt business. Known as one of the first martial arts tricksters in open competitions (NASKA), Ho helped to popularize the 540 kick and the Hawkeye Kick in the mid-eighties and first gained worldwide recognition for his stunt work as “Donatello” in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (1991) and III (1993), and his role as “Chan” in Mortal Kombat (1995). As a well regarded martial artist, action director, stuntman, and fight trainer in Hollywood, Ho works on a large number of high-profile film, television, commercial, and music video projects. He has privately trained many notable clients including Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Franco, Pierce Brosnan, Tobey Maguire, Pink, Method Man, Rachel Weisz, Gisele Bündchen, Josh Charles, Peter Krause, Bar Refaeli, Michael C. Hall, Brad Womack, Britney Spears. As a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan, Ho’s popular and memorable stunt segments taught Conan the fine art of stunts and fighting. Ho co-founded Plush Home, Inc., an all-encompassing interior design firm and furniture line, in 2003 with his wife, Nina Petronzio, American Interior Designer and Furniture Designer known for her high end Transitional Style designs. Plush Home has established itself as a top and high-end turnkey provider of home building and interior design services. It’s branded furniture line is housed in influential homes and hotels worldwide.