Steel-hewn, barrel-chested screen performer Max Ryan sported a rugged, threatening image that immediately placed him in a tight genre niche in action movies; producers typically, though not always, cast him as the villain. Among other accomplishments, Ryan made one of his earliest appearances as a heavy opposite martial arts superstar Jet Li in Chris Nahon's action thriller Kiss of the Dragon (2001), played one of the nemeses of Sean Connery in Steve Norrington's muddled, roundly disappointing comic book-style adventure The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), and ushered in a sense of pure unadulterated evil with his portrayal of a psychotic, sadistic madman in Robby Henson's thriller Thr3e (2007). The following year, Ryan again starred as the villain, this time opposite Joan Allen and Jason Statham, in Death Race (2008), Paul W.S. Anderson's remake of the Corman outing Death Race 2000 (1975). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide