''Deadly Force'' is a 1983 American

action film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as D ...

directed by Paul Aaron and written by Ken Barnett, Robert Vincent O'Neill and Barry Schneider. The film stars

Wings Hauser Gerald Dwight "Wings" Hauser (December 12, 1947 – March 15, 2025) was an American actor, screenwriter, film director and musician. A prolific character actor, he appeared in over 100 film and television productions since 1967, and was once cal ...

, Joyce Ingalls,

Paul Shenar Albert Paul Shenar (February 12, 1936 − October 11, 1989) was an American actor and theater director best known for his portrayals of Jenner in Don Bluth's ''The Secret of NIMH'' (1982) and Alejandro Sosa in '' Scarface'' (1983). A veteran Bro ...

Al Ruscio Al Ruscio (June 2, 1924 – November 12, 2013) was an American character actor who appeared in numerous television shows and films. Early life Ruscio was born in Salem, Massachusetts on June 2, 1924. He graduated from Salem High School, after ...

, Arlen Dean Snyder and

Lincoln Kilpatrick Lincoln Kilpatrick (February 12, 1931 – May 18, 2004) was an American film, television, and stage actor. Biography Career Born in St. Louis, Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, stat ...

. The film was released on July 8, 1983, by

Embassy Pictures Embassy Pictures Corporation (also and later known as Avco Embassy Pictures as well as Embassy Films Associates) was an American independent film production and distribution company, which was active from 1942 to 1986. Embassy was responsible ...

Plot

A disgraced former police officer, Stoney Cooper, returns to Los Angeles when a serial killer strikes close to home, and vows to catch the murderer and win back his estranged wife.

Cast

as Stoney Cooper * Joyce Ingalls as Eddie Cooper *

as Joshua Adams *

as Sam Goodwin *Arlen Dean Snyder as Ashley Maynard *

as Otto Hoxley *

Bud Ekins James Sherwin "Bud" Ekins (May 11, 1930 – October 6, 2007) was an American professional stuntman in the U.S. film industry. He is considered to be one of the film industry's most accomplished stuntmen with a body of work that includes class ...

as Harvey Benton *J. Víctor López as Diego *Hector Elias as Lopez *

Ramón Franco Ramón Franco Bahamonde (2 February 1896 – 28 October 1938) was a Spanish pioneer of aviation, a political figure and brother of later caudillo Francisco Franco. Well before the Spanish Civil War, during the reign of Alfonso XIII, both brot ...

as Jesus *

Gina Gallego Georgina Maria Gallego is an American actress, known for her work in television. Her credits include: 1981 Sanford (Season 2 episode 8), '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'', '' Flamingo Road'' (as Alicia Sanchez), ''Remington Steele'', ''Airwolf ...

as Maria *Big Yank as Jefferson *

Estelle Getty Estelle Gettleman (née Scher; July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008), known professionally as Estelle Getty, was an American actress and comedian. She was best known for her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo on ''The Golden Girls'' (1985–1992), for whi ...

as Gussie *Victoria Vanderkloot as Beverly *Richard Beauchamp as Tony the Bomber *

Paul Benjamin Paul Benjamin (February 4, 1935 – June 28, 2019) was an American actor. Early life Benjamin was born to Fair, a Baptist preacher (1890–1950), and Rosa Benjamin (née Butler; 1895–1940) in Pelion, South Carolina, the youngest of 12 child ...

as Lester *Bill Berry as Jack *Eddie Braun as Eduardo *Flo Di Re as Stenographer *BJ Davis as Marty *

Ned Eisenberg Ned Eisenberg (January 13, 1957 – February 27, 2022) was an American actor known for his recurring role on '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' as Roger Kressler. Early life and education Eisenberg was born in The Bronx in 1957, where he gr ...

as Rat Game Owner *Bill Hart as Barrio Victim *Ray Lykins as Guard #1 *Ben Mittleman as Harry *Estelle Moore as Ashley's Dame *

Aaron Norris Aaron Dee Norris (born November 23, 1951) is an American stunt performer, director, occasional actor, and film and television producer. He is the younger brother of action film star Chuck Norris. Career 1974–1988: Stunt work to directing W ...

as Guard #3 *Frank Ronzio as Sal Saluzzo *Ronald C. Ross as Guard #2 *Marion Russell as Hotel Maid *Vanna Salviati as Mrs. Hernandez *Ramon Sison as Coroner *Lenore Woodward as Ashley's Mother

Production

The film was first announced in October 1982 under the working title of ''Fierce Encounter''. After being impressed with

during the making of ''

Vice Squad Vice Squad are an English punk rock band formed in 1979 in Bristol. The band was formed from two other local punk bands, The Contingent and TV Brakes. The songwriter and vocalist Beki Bondage (born Rebecca Bond) was a founding member of the b ...

'', producer

Sandy Howard Sandy Howard (August 1, 1927 – May 16, 2008) was an American film producer and television producer. Biography A native of the Bronx, New York City, Howard wrote short stories for publication in magazines like ''Liberty'', and worked as a publi ...

developed the character of Stoney Cooper specifically for Hauser, in the hopes that it would lead to a franchise.

References

External links

* * 1983 films American action films 1983 action films Films directed by Paul Aaron 1980s English-language films 1980s American films English-language action films {{1980s-US-film-stub