Brian Thompson began a long string of roles in action films by appearing in Arnold Schwarzenegger's apocalyptic classic "The Terminator" in 1984, and he followed with several TV appearances before working with another iconic action star, Sylvester Stallone, in 1986's "Cobra." Extending his range to include other genres, he appeared in the comedy "Three Amigos!" starring Martin Short, Chevy Chase, and Steve Martin, the same year. In the late '80s Thompson had small roles on several TV series, including "Falcon Crest" and "Werewolf." In 1989 he made his first appearance in the "Star Trek" universe, playing various characters in three series and the film "Star Trek Generations." In the '90s he had recurring roles on the series "Key West," "The X-Files," and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He returned to action with "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation," based on the popular video game. Thompson continued to work consistently in the '00s and '10s, with small appearances on popular TV series and several small film roles. Adding to his resume the title of director, Thompson wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the comedy the "Action Hero," drawing from his experience as a Hollywood action star.