Yayan Ruhian

Yayan Ruhian (born 19 October 1968) is a renowned Indonesian martial artist and actor, largely recognized for his roles in Gareth Evans' films. His acting repertoire includes notable characters such as Mad Dog in The Raid (2011), Prakoso in The Raid 2 (2014), Tasu Leech in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and a police chief in Beyond Skyline (2017), a role that he reprised in Skylines (2020). Born in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia, he started studying pencak silat, a traditional martial art, at the age of 13. In addition to pencak silat, he trained in several other martial arts techniques like aikido, and also served as a hand-to-hand instructor for the Indonesian National Police. His experience as a martial artist led Ruhian to a film career, where his physical prowess and martial arts skills were cast in the spotlight.

His film career started when Gareth Evans asked him to assist in choreographing the action for the film Merantau in 2008. He was cast in an antagonistic role and his performance quickly gained attention, leading to various roles in following films. With his imposing physical presence and phenomenal fighting skills, his performances have been critically acclaimed. In addition to acting, Ruhian has contributed in the choreography department. This dual contribution can be seen in films like The Raid and The Raid 2, where Ruhian played tenacious characters while also choreographing the fight sequences. Ruhian's likeness became a meme online, referred to by the term 'gereget', a testament to his impact on popular culture through his film roles. His personal life includes teaching pencak silat in his free time.