Eric Karson

?–2026

American film director and producer known for the martial-arts films The Octagon and Lionheart.

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Particulars

Eric Karson was an American film director and producer best known for his work in martial-arts cinema. He directed The Octagon (1980), a martial-arts action film starring Chuck Norris, and produced Lionheart (1990), which helped launch Jean-Claude Van Damme as a leading action star. He also collaborated with French kickboxer Olivier Gruner on two films and directed a film with Tom Skerritt.

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Sources cited

Eric Karson, Director of ‘The Octagon’ and Producer of ‘Lionheart,’ Dies at 86hollywood-reporter30 Oct 2026 · 13:41 UTC