WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Cobra Kai.
Cobra Kai season six part two has finally landed, and with it comes the introduction of a new character that’s set to shake things up.
Sensei Wolf, played by actor Lewis Tan, makes his debut as the leader of the Iron Dragons dojo, instantly clashing with Johnny Lawrence, portrayed by William Zabka.
Netflix fans have eagerly awaited the return of the martial arts series, with the second half of the show’s final season dropping on Friday, November 15.
As Sensei Wolf becomes a pivotal figure in the latest instalment, viewers are keen to delve into the background of the man behind the dojo’s newest sensei.
Famous family
Lewis Tan, born in Salford, Manchester, in 1987, is no stranger to the world of martial arts, thanks to his family’s deep roots in the discipline.
The eldest of four brothers, Tan spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles but also experienced life in England and China.
Tan’s heritage is a blend of English and Chinese, being the son of retired fashion model Joanne Cassidy and Philip Tan, a Chinese Singaporean who has made his mark as a martial artist, actor, and stunt coordinator.
It was under his father’s guidance that Tan first explored martial arts, which paved the way for his successful career.
In an interview with Flaunt, Tan shared insights into his early training: “My father was a national champion in Taekwondo when he was 22, and he’s been training me in martial arts since I was young.
“So he was my first teacher. But I have a background in the amateur circuit in kickboxing in Muay Thai but I have jiu-jitsu, I’ve training boxing MMA, many different weapons, Kung Fu, and Wushu.”
Acting success
Tan’s acting career has been significantly influenced by his martial arts expertise, allowing him to bring authenticity and skill to his roles within the action genre.
One of his earliest acting gigs was in an episode of CSI: NY, but he has since landed more significant roles.
These include playing Cole Young in Mortal Combat, Tolya in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, and Lu Xin Lee in Wu Assassins.
According to his IMDb profile, Tan is set to star in the thriller Copperhead alongside Emily in Paris’ Lucien Laviscount, as well as in Mortal Combat 2.
Ryan Reynolds
Earlier this year, Tan had a major role in the Marvel film Deadpool and Wolverine, where he played Shatterstar.
The 37 year old shared an amusing anecdote with Tatler Asia about an encounter with co-star Ryan Reynolds that didn’t quite go as planned.
When asked about the biggest challenge he faced on set, he said: “Putting in the huge orange contact lenses. They were so annoying, and I have sensitive eyes.
“It’s so funny, because most of the time Ryan was in his Deadpool outfit and I was wearing those contacts.
“One time, we ran into each other off-set, and we were both dressed normally.
“We had this awkward moment of meeting each other [properly] for the first time.”
Dealing with racism
While the Cobra Kai actor hasn’t spoken about any specific incidents, he has previously discussed experiencing racism.
In 2019, he posted on Twitter, now X: “Just wanna say this, as much as racism makes me angry and won’t be tolerated, it comes from ignorance and insecurity.
“You can not carry that energy into your life or work. It is a poison.
“Have a blessed day, give a stranger of a diff race a compliment today. Spread love.”
In 2021, he opened up about his personal experiences: “I have been dealing with violent racism my whole life, my father before me, it’s actually the reason why we started martial arts.
“This is nothing new unfortunately, we must be united in doing whatever we can to create change. I am angry too, but it starts with loving each other.”
Cobra Kai is available to watch on Netflix.