Robert Mark Kamen is an American screenwriter, film producer, and winemaker, primarily recognized for creating The Karate Kid franchise and for his extensive collaborations with filmmaker Luc Besson.
Born in 1947 in the Bronx, New York, Kamen earned a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. His entry into professional screenwriting began in the early 1980s. His most notable solo credit, The Karate Kid (1984), was informed by his own background in martial arts, specifically Gōjū-ryū karate, which he began practicing after being assaulted as a teenager.
In the late 1990s and 2000s, Kamen became a frequent collaborator with French director and producer Luc Besson. Working through Besson's production company, EuropaCorp, Kamen co-wrote several commercially successful action films and franchises. This partnership produced The Fifth Element (1997), The Transporter series (beginning in 2002), and the Taken trilogy (beginning in 2008). His work is often characterized by a focus on high-concept action and archetypal character motivations.
Other notable screenwriting credits include Taps (1981), A Walk in the Clouds (1995), and Colombiana (2011).
In addition to his career in the film industry, Kamen is a viticulturist. In 1980, he purchased land in Sonoma Valley, California, where he established Kamen Estate Wines. The vineyard specializes in organic viticulture, particularly the production of Cabernet Sauvignon.
