In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 23 June 1981
- Birthplace
- Palembang, South Sumatra
- Country
- Indonesia
- Nationality
- Indonesian
- Known for
- Moving from Indonesian judo into The Raid and international action cinema
- Breakthrough film
- The Raid, 2011
- International franchise
- Mortal Kombat
- Television role
- Li Yong in Warrior
- Earlier career
- Indonesian national judo team
Why this life matters
Joe Taslim turned elite martial-arts experience into a transnational acting career, helping make Indonesian action performers visible across major global franchises.
Timeline
Key moments
Joined Indonesia’s junior judo team
Began a national-team career that continued through 2009.
Won a SEA Games silver medal
Added a major regional result before injury brought his competitive career to an end.
Broke through in The Raid
Played police sergeant Jaka in Gareth Evans’s internationally successful action film.
Appeared in Fast & Furious 6
Entered a major Hollywood franchise as the mercenary Jah.
Played Sub-Zero
Took the role of Bi-Han in Mortal Kombat and later returned for the 2026 sequel.
A judoka before the camera
Joe Taslim trained in several martial arts before choosing judo and joining Indonesia’s national programme. Competition gave him the timing, falls and physical control that later distinguished his screen work, although injury ended the sporting career.
The Raid as a global calling card
After modelling and early acting work, Joe won the role of Jaka in The Raid. The film’s close-quarters choreography attracted worldwide attention and led to Fast & Furious 6, Star Trek Beyond and the Indonesian action feature The Night Comes for Us.
Sustaining an international career
Joe played Li Yong across three seasons of Warrior and Bi-Han in the Mortal Kombat films. Those parts required more than athletic display: they established him as a dramatic performer who could carry characters across languages, production cultures and long-form stories.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Joe Taslim
- Who is Joe Taslim?
- Joe Taslim is an actor and former national judo athlete. Joe Taslim turned elite martial-arts experience into a transnational acting career, helping make Indonesian action performers visible across major global franchises.
- What is Joe Taslim best known for?
- Joe Taslim is best known for moving from Indonesian judo into The Raid and international action cinema.
- When and where was Joe Taslim born?
- Joe Taslim was born on 23 June 1981 in Palembang, South Sumatra.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 8 September 2026.
