The Shogun Of Harlem
Sho’nuff “The Shogun of Harlem” is the main villain from the 1985 martial arts film “The Last Dragon.” The highly skilled and boastful martial artist is the self-proclaimed “Shogun of Harlem” who believes himself to be the best fighter in Harlem. He is determined to defeat the film’s hero, Bruce Leroy, as he views him as the only one who stands in the way of total supremacy. He is portrayed by the late great Julius J. Carry III (March 12, 1952 – August 19, 2008)
The Greatest Villain of All Time?
Sho’Nuff should go down in history as one of the greatest movie villains of all-time, along with other icons such as Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, Norman Bates, Heath Ledger’s Joker, and the shark in Jaws. He is one of those villains that many fans like more than the hero.
His introductory scene is widely considered to be one of the most iconic and memorable villain entrances in film history.
The Last Dragon would not be the cult classic it is without the memorable performance of Julius Carry as Sho’nuff. Standing at 6’5″, Carry brings a charismatic yet arrogant and menacing attitude to the character, and his commanding presence dominates every scene he’s in. Carry’s dedication and acting skills make his fight scenes look incredibly realistic despite not being a trained martial artist. He somehow makes over-the-top big hair, shade glasses, leopard skin, shoulder pads, and urban samurai-style karate gi’s look cool and intimidating.
“He got so physically into the part by the time we put him into his costume and the wig and the whole thing he made you believe that he was the baddest martial artist on the planet.”
Michael Schultz, 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray Commentary
Practically every one of his lines and expressions has become an iconic quote. From memorable quotes such as “Who’s The Master?” and “Kiss my Converse!” to his self-proclaimed titles of “Shogun of Harlem” and “Meanest, Prettiest, Baddest mofo low down around this town?” Carry truly embodies the character of Sho’nuff and bullies his way on the list of the greatest movie villains of all time.
Taimak, who portrayed Bruce Leroy, recounts an experience where Julius Carry’s method acting style resulted in him remaining in character and constantly trying to provoke Taimak on set, in order to elicit more genuine emotions and increase the tension in their scenes.
As a child, I recall watching “The Last Dragon” and being genuinely intimidated by the larger-than-life character of Sho’nuff. Carry, effectively portrays the role of a bully who will stop at nothing to defeat and demean the hero, “Bruce” Leroy Green.
Sadly, Julius Carry passed away at 52 due to pancreatic cancer, but his legacy lives on through his portrayal of the villainous yet beloved character Sho’nuff in “The Last Dragon”.
Julius Carry
Julius J. Carry III was born on March 12, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. He died on August 19, 2008.
Julius Carry had a long and varied acting career that spanned almost three decades. He made his big-screen debut in 1979’s “Disco Godfather” and also appeared in “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh” that same year. Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous television shows, including “The Jeffersons,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Murphy Brown,” “Family Matters,” “A Different World,” and “Boy Meets World.” One of his most notable roles outside of Sho’nuff was as Lord Bowler in the cult classic TV show “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.” in 1993-1994. His final acting appearance was in the season one episode “Eating The Young” on the CBS series “The Unit” which aired in 2006.
Sho’nuff Video Tribute
by Stephen Graham
More Julius Carry & Sho’nuff on this Site:
- The Julius Carry Archives
- Memories of Julius Carry from the Cast of The Last Dragon
- Never Seen Video: Behind The Scenes on Set of The Last Dragon
- It’s Official: SHO’NUFF Voted The Most Infamous Martial Arts Villain of All-Time!
- Celebrate Julius Carry’s Birthday with your Favorite Sho’nuff Quote
- THE HARLEM SHOGUNS: SHO’NUFF THE BADDEST MOFO LOW DOWN T-SHIRT AROUND THIS TOWN
- Honoring Julius J Carry III AKA Sho’nuff: The Baddest Mofo Around on the 5th Anniversary of his Death
- Who’s Badder than The Shogun!?!?
- Sho’nuff – Julius Carry Feature on our older site
- Sho’nuff & Bruce Leroy Inspired Art: Part I & Part II
- Top 22 Quotes from The Last Dragon
Did you See This Tribute to Sho’nuff at The 2014 UASE Last Dragon 30th Anniversary Celebration?
The Harlem Shoguns Sho’nuff T-Shirts
More Sho’nuff on Other Sites:
- Julius Carry on IMBD
- Julius Carry in “The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr.” – intro
- Julius Carry on “Boy Meets World” – he plays Angela’s father Sgt. Moore
- Julius Carry in an old Coors Light commercial
- Kiss my Converse.com – the Societal Impact of Sho’nuff
- Sho’nuff Technicolor award – Sho’nuff’s impact on society is honored
- The Shogun of Harlem on Wikipedia
The Last Dragon Tribute is an online community for fans of the 80’s Motown martial arts cult classic THE LAST DRAGON. Our mission is to connect and unite fans from around the world. Through our website and social media platforms, we aim to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the film and ultimately “Keep the Glow Alive” while also exploring the broader world of Bruce Lee and martial arts entertainment. We strive to be the ultimate online destination for fans of this beloved classic.
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