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Steve Cardenas

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For the American guitarist, see Steve Cardenas (musician).
Steve Cardenas
Cardenas in April 2016
Born
Stephen Antonio Cardenas

(1974-05-29) May 29, 1974 (age 50)
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Occupations
  • Martial artist
  • actor
  • musician
Years active1992–present (actor)
1986–present (martial artist)
Known forRocky DeSantos / The Red Ranger / Blue Zeo Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Power Rangers Zeo

Stephen Antonio Cardenas (born May 29, 1974) is an American martial artist and actor. He is best known for playing the character Rocky DeSantos, the second Red Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and eventually the Blue Zeo Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo.[1]

Early life

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Cardenas was born Stephen Antonio Cardenas on May 29, 1974, in Hampton, Virginia, at the Langley Air Force Base. Spending his early childhood as a military brat, Cardenas was raised in San Antonio, Texas. He is of Puerto Rican and Spanish ancestry.[2] He started training in martial arts when he was about 12 years old and reached black belt in Taekwondo at age 16. He has been training in the martial arts for over 30 years and has earned a 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo and a 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[3]

Career

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At age 20, Cardenas left his native Texas and settled in Los Angeles to audition for a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers role that would change his life. His character, Rocky DeSantos, replaced Jason Lee Scott as the Red Ranger in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, and later became the Blue Zeo Ranger for Power Rangers Zeo. He had no previous acting experience and had to learn on the job. Cardenas left the Power Rangers series and retired from acting during Power Rangers Turbo, due to contract disagreements, and possibly to focus on his martial arts career.[4] Many years later, starting at the 2007 Power Morphicon convention, he began making convention appearances with other former cast members.[5]

After Power Rangers, he owns a martial arts studio in Burbank, California and one in his hometown of San Antonio. In 2009, he started a kids-specific program at Hollywood Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio in West Hollywood, and in 2011 he opened the Force/Balance Brazilian jiu-jitsu & Yoga school. Cardenas had become interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after losing a friendly match against "a blue belt in BJJ... [he] choked me out in 10 seconds! He was only training for a year and a half at that time and I had been training for 10 yrs. It was an immediate eye opener." The style was more difficult for him to learn than other martial arts disciplines.[6]

He holds multiple awards from martial arts contests, including two Silver Medals at Copa Pacifica (2009 and 2011), Gold Medal winner of the 2009 American National Championship, Gold Medal in the 2010 Jujitsu Pro Gear Open, and Silver Medal in the 2010 No-Gi World Championships.[6]

In 2017, he starred in the short movie The Order alongside Austin St. John, Catherine Sutherland, David Yost, Johnny Yong Bosch, Paul Schrier, Karan Ashley, Walter Emanuel Jones, Erin Cahill, Blake Foster, Nakia Burrise, Hilary Shepard Turner, Dan Southworth, Alyson Sullivan, Deborah Estelle Phillips and Azim Rizk.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

For the first time since Power Rangers Turbo, Cardenas returned to the Power Rangers Franchise in Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel for the 25th anniversary episode reprising his role as Rocky DeSantos. He also reprised the role in the Netflix special, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise.[15]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie Rocky DeSantos / The Red Ranger
1997 Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie Rocky DeSantos
2017 The Order Dax
Beast of the Water Evans
2023 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always Rocky DeSantos / Mighty Morphin Red Ranger 30th Anniversary Special
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1994–1996 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Rocky DeSantos / Mighty Morphin Red Ranger/ Rocko 64 Episodes
1994 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alpha's Magical Christmas Rocky DeSantos Video short
1996 Power Rangers Zeo Rocky DeSantos / Blue Zeo Ranger / Prince Henry 50 Episodes
1997 Power Rangers Turbo Rocky DeSantos 3 Episodes
1999 Power Rangers: The Lost Episode Special episode (archival footage)
2018 Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel Rocky DeSantos / Mighty Morphin Red Ranger Episode: “Dimensions in Danger”

References

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  1. ^ Michael Mammano (2013-12-05). "Interview With Power Rangers' Steve Cardenas | Den of Geek". Denofgeek.us. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  2. ^ "Official Steve Cardenas Interview!". RangerBoard.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  3. ^ Steven Vanderpool (2011-08-02). "Forever Red: Steve Cardenas Talks 'Power Rangers' and Force/Balance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga!". Iconvsicon.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  4. ^ "Interview With Power Rangers' Steve Cardenas – Dec 5, 2013". Dennis Publishing. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  5. ^ [1] Archived July 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b [2][dead link]
  7. ^ The Order film 2017 on imdb.com
  8. ^ The Order film 2017 on henshinjustice.com Archived 2016-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ The Order on ecartelera.com
  10. ^ The Order on houston imports.com
  11. ^ The Order film 2017 on nerdbastards.com
  12. ^ The Order movie science fiction.com
  13. ^ "The Order on aceofgeeks.net". Archived from the original on 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  14. ^ The Order on plugou.com
  15. ^ Gomez, Patrick (17 January 2023). "Original 'Power Rangers' stars reunite for 30th anniversary Netflix special". EW.com. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
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