Dyra Sao (born 1979) also known as D.Y. Sao, is a Cambodian-American actor, martial artist, stunt performer, and producer. His film credits include The Prey (2018), Jailbreak (2017), and Gladiator Underground (2025).
Early life and education D.Y. Sao was born in Battambang, Cambodia, in 1979. During the Khmer Rouge civil war. His sister Dary was born in a refugee camp in Manila, Philippines, and the family later moved to Long Beach, California. Sao became interested in martial arts as a child and practiced by copying Bruce Lee and Donnie Yen, but his father could not afford to pay for lessons at a local martial arts school.
Sao studied psychology at the University of California, Irvine, and graduated in 2003. Career
Competitive wushu Sao with his sister started taking wushu taolu classes in 2000 at the Southern California under Chris Ho. Sao could barely afford lessons, so instead of payment, he was tasked with completing chores in his wushu school. With only three years of training, he competed in the 2003 US Wushu Team Trials and placed on the A Team. Sao then competed at the 2003 World Wushu Championships in Macau and placed 17th in changquan and 6th in daoshu, the highest by any American male athlete at the competition.
Acting Career After competitive wushu. Sao began his career in film as a stunt performer and fight choreographer. His early credits include stunt work on Break and Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, as well as fight choreography for Champion Road: Arena. He later worked as a stunt coordinator on Jungle Justice and Tokyo Ghoul: Re - Anime.
Sao started gaining more acting roles in early 2010s. Some of his appearances in short films include Feel the Music in 2014, In 2017 he starred in The Block, and Jack and Jill in 2018.
In 2021 Sao was cast as Shen Long in the action film, Fast Vengeance alongside DMX. He also played as Voaen the lead character in the film Shadow Master in 2022. Sao continued working with stunts and action departments. He did utility stunts for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and stunt work for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
In 2024, Sao starred in the action film Bangkok Dog, in which he played Andrew Kang, and also served as the producer and action director.
In 2025 he was cast as Max Yen in Gladiator Underground.
Filmography
Film
YearTitleRole 2003 Cradle 2 the Grave Background extra 2009 Art of War Asian warrior 2010 War Machine White Ninja Broken Blade Ryu Hitana 2013 How War Ends Rithy 5th Street Lee 2014 Feel the Music Michael 2021 Fast Vengeance Shen Long 2022 Shadow Master An Voaen Everything Everywhere All at Once Chinese Choir True American Violence Richie 2023 Til Death Do Us Part Groomsman 1 2024 Bangkok Dog Andrew Kang Batman Beyond: Year One Flush Gang Henchman 2025 Gladiator Underground Max Yen
Television
YearTitleRole 2015 1/4 Mermaid Sy 2021–2024 Marvel Studios: Assembled Himself
Short films
YearTitleRole 2017 The Block Officer Xiang / Patron Cactus — 2018 Jack and Jill Officer R. Man The Most Interesting Man in Show Business Charles Lo 2025 Shaolin Avengers — 2026 Child of the Rouge Lieutenant — Serpentine Fang Gladstone Jack Ripper
Stunt work
YearTitleRole 2008 Break Stunt performer 2009 On the Edge Stunt performer; fight choreographer 2009–2010 Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight Stunt performer 2010 Champion Road: Arena Fight choreographer 2014 Feel the Music Fight choreographer 2015 The Scuttlebutt Assassins Fight choreographer 2015 Jungle Justice Stunt coordinator 2017 Cactus Assistant stunt coordinator 2018 Tokyo Ghoul: Re - Anime Stunt coordinator 2020 Breakarate Additional stunt performer 2021 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Utility stunts 2022 Everything Everywhere All at Once Additional stunt performer 2022 Shadow Master Stunt coordinator 2024 Bangkok Dog Action director; fight choreographer — Serpentine Stunt performer; action director Gladstone Stunt coordinator; action coordinator
Producer
YearTitleRole 2016 Vici Consulting producer 2022 True American Violence Executive producer 2024 Bangkok Dog Producer — The Fifth Hour of the Night Producer References
External links