Karen Sheperd

Karen Sheperd is an American actress with numerous credits in film, television and theatre. Her love with acting began in high school where she acted in various plays. Sheperd Is also a World-Class #1 Champion Martial Artist and is in the Black Belt Hall of Fame, alongside icons such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Chuck Norris. As a Martial Arts Celebrity, Sheperd retired from competition early 1981 to accept her first film-acting role ("Shinobi Ninja"), becoming the first American female martial artist to star in an action film. Sheperd moved to Hollywood and dove into acting studies. Throughout her acting career, Karen Sheperd has starred and co-starred with luminary award-winners such as Angelina Jolie, Jack Palance, Joan Jett, Madonna, Camilla Sparv, Paul Williams, James Hong, Nancy Kwan, John Hawkes, Pamela Anderson and more. Karen received rave reviews for her lead theatre roles in Hollywood theatre productions such as "Summer and Smoke" by Tennessee Williams and "In The Boom Boom Room" by David Rabe. Inspired by Bruce Lee, Karen Sheperd set out to become the first "female Bruce Lee." Sheperd dove into Martial Arts and ultimately became legendary. A trailblazing pioneer, Karen broke barriers and became the first female Champion to be rated #1 in the only ratings system at the time, "Karate Illustrated" magazine (1979 & 1980.) Sheperd made history and the National news in 1980 when she became the first woman ever to win "Grand Champion" at the U.S. Open Karate Championships in St. Petersburg, FL, beating the Nation's top male and female competitors. In 1979, at the request of "Karate Illustrated's" editor (Renardo Barden,) Sheperd embarked on what would be an historical and successful campaign to establish official ratings for women when none existed so that more women would compete. The number of women training and competing in 1979 was 10% (according to Black Belt Magazine). During Karens #1 reign and after, she witnessed the numbers rise to 50% because of her campaign. Inside Kung Fu's" "Star" ratings for women began in 1980, Karen garnering that #1 title as well. Karen Sheperd was one of the first women to appear on the covers of major Martial Arts magazines such as "Black Belt", "Inside Karate", "KICK", and many more. Besides acting, Karen has lent her expertise as a fight-choreographer to various film, television and stage productions, including live-action projects at Disneyland, CA. Karen has been happily married to the same man since 1993, loves animals, has always had numerous rescue cats and dogs, and still pursues acting.