Martin Hewitt is an American actor best known for making his feature-film debut opposite Brooke Shields in Franco Zeffirelli’s Endless Love (1981). Born in San Jose, California, Hewitt began acting while young and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before landing his breakthrough role. His early film career moved from major romantic drama to comedy, action, horror, war films and erotic thrillers. Although he never became a long-term mainstream star, he built a substantial filmography through the 1980s and 1990s, often taking prominent roles in independent and low-budget productions. His final released feature-film credit was Ground Zero in 2000, while his later screen appearances were primarily television roles.
For readers searching for Martin Hewitt movies by year, his film career is notable for its variety. His credits include cult favorites such as Killer Party, science-fiction horror in Alien Predator, romantic drama in Two Moon Junction, and several thriller productions directed by Gregory Dark.
1981 — Endless Love
Endless Love marked Martin Hewitt’s feature-film debut, with Hewitt playing David Axelrod opposite Brooke Shields as Jade Butterfield. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, the romantic drama was based on Scott Spencer’s novel and also featured Shirley Knight, Don Murray and a young Tom Cruise. The story follows two teenagers whose intense relationship is complicated by family opposition and escalating emotional consequences. The film remains the defining entry in Hewitt’s career because it placed him in a leading role in a major Hollywood production at the very beginning of his professional film career.
1983 — Yellowbeard
In Yellowbeard, Martin Hewitt played Dan in an ensemble comedy built around the eccentric pirate Yellowbeard, portrayed by Graham Chapman. Directed by Mel Damski, the British-Mexican production brought together an unusually large group of comedy performers, including Peter Boyle, Peter Cook, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Eric Idle and John Cleese. The film combines pirate adventure with broad comedy and absurdist humor associated with several major comedy traditions of the period. Hewitt’s appearance was a notable departure from the serious romantic drama of his debut and demonstrated his willingness to work in different genres.
1985 — Out of Control
Out of Control was a 1985 action-drama directed by Allan Holzman, with Martin Hewitt starring as Keith Toland. The film follows a group of young people whose trip to a private island turns dangerous after their seaplane crashes and they encounter drug smugglers. Hewitt was joined by Andrew J. Lederer, Betsy Russell and Sherilyn Fenn in the survival-oriented story. The movie represented a move toward the action and adventure productions that increasingly characterized Hewitt’s work during the middle of the 1980s.
1986 — Killer Party
Martin Hewitt played Blake in Killer Party, a supernatural horror comedy directed by William Fruet. The story centers on three sorority pledges who become involved in a dangerous initiation at an abandoned house where a demonic force is unleashed. Hewitt appeared alongside Ralph Seymour, Elaine Wilkes and Paul Bartel in the cult-style production. Released in May 1986, the movie became one of the more recognizable genre titles in Hewitt’s 1980s filmography.
1986/1987 — The Falling (Alien Predator)
The Falling, later released under the title Alien Predator, is a science-fiction horror film directed by Deran Sarafian. Hewitt played Michael, one of three Americans travelling through Spain who become caught in a terrifying situation involving an alien organism. Dennis Christopher and Lynn-Holly Johnson starred alongside him as the other central characters. The film is sometimes dated 1986 by production and some databases, while other listings identify its Alien Predator release as 1987, so it is best treated as one film rather than two separate Martin Hewitt credits.
1988 — White Ghost
In White Ghost, Martin Hewitt played Waco, appearing alongside William Katt and Rosalind Chao. Directed by B.J. Davis, the action-adventure war film follows an American soldier who has remained hidden in the jungles of Vietnam after being listed as missing in action. A military team is sent to locate him, but the mission becomes complicated by conflicting motives within the group. The movie added another military-action role to Hewitt’s growing collection of genre performances.
1988 — Private War (Operation: Paratrooper)
Private War, also known as Operation: Paratrooper and State of Mind, features Hewitt as Phil Cooper. Directed by Frank De Palma, the war-action thriller centers on a brutal sergeant whose relationship with a younger soldier becomes increasingly dangerous as the soldier learns about his father’s past. Joe Dallesandro and Kimberly Beck were among the principal cast members. Although some databases list the film under a 1989 release, it was produced and released under different regional dates; its original film identity is Private War, making the alternate titles separate listings of the same movie rather than additional films.
1988 — Two Moon Junction
Martin Hewitt portrayed Chad Douglas Fairchild in Zalman King’s romantic drama Two Moon Junction. The film stars Sherilyn Fenn as April DeLongpre, a young woman whose impending marriage and sheltered upbringing are challenged by her attraction to a mysterious carnival worker played by Richard Tyson. Hewitt’s Chad is April’s fiancé, placing his character at the center of the film’s conflict between social expectations and desire. The movie became one of the more recognizable titles in Hewitt’s later 1980s career and is frequently associated with the erotic-romance cycle of that period.
1990 — Crime Lords
Crime Lords is an action film directed by Wayne Crawford, who also stars alongside Martin Hewitt. Hewitt plays Peter Russo, one of two suspended Los Angeles police partners who travel to Hong Kong while pursuing an international criminal operation. The story combines police action with an overseas crime investigation and features Susan Byun and James Hong among the supporting cast. It continued Hewitt’s run of action-oriented roles as he entered the 1990s.
1991 — Carnal Crimes
In the erotic thriller Carnal Crimes, Hewitt played Renny, a photographer who becomes involved with a Beverly Hills woman played by Linda Carol. Directed by Gregory Dark, the film mixes mystery and thriller elements with an adult relationship drama as the woman’s affair develops into suspicion and danger. The cast also includes Paula Trickey, Doug Jones and Danny Trejo. While very different from Endless Love, the film became part of the independent thriller work that occupied much of Hewitt’s career during the early 1990s.
1992 — Secret Games
Secret Games is a 1992 erotic thriller directed by Gregory Dark, with Martin Hewitt playing Eric. The story follows a neglected housewife who becomes involved with an escort service and discovers that leaving it is far more difficult than expected. Hewitt stars with Michele Brin, Delia Sheppard, Catya Sassoon and Billy Drago. The film was released as a video production rather than a conventional theatrical feature in some markets, making it important to identify its distribution format when discussing Hewitt’s filmography.
1992 — Night Rhythms
Hewitt took the lead role of Nick West in Night Rhythms, an erotic mystery thriller directed by Gregory Dark. Nick is a radio talk-show host who becomes the prime suspect after a female listener is murdered and is forced to investigate while trying to establish his innocence. David Carradine and Sam J. Jones were among the film’s other notable performers. The movie is particularly significant within Hewitt’s filmography because it gave him a central role in a suspense-driven story rather than simply a supporting part.
1993 — Secret Games 2: The Escort
Secret Games 2: The Escort was released in 1993 as a standalone sequel in the Secret Games series, again directed by Gregory Dark. Martin Hewitt played Kyle Lake, a married artist who becomes caught up in a complicated world involving prostitution, relationships and personal experimentation. Marie Leroux, Amy Rochelle and Sara Suzanne Brown were among the principal cast. Although it carries the Secret Games name, the film is not a direct continuation of the first movie’s story, making Hewitt’s return more of a thematic connection than a continuing-character sequel.
1994 — Night Fire
In Night Fire, Martin Hewitt played Cal in a thriller directed by Mike Sedan. The movie stars Shannon Tweed, John Laughlin and Rochelle Swanson and revolves around a dangerous situation involving its central characters. Released in the United States on October 12, 1994, the film continued Hewitt’s association with independent adult-oriented mystery and thriller productions. It was one of his final feature-film appearances before his screen work became increasingly limited.
1997 — Bombshell
Bombshell is a science-fiction thriller written and directed by Paul Wynne, featuring Henry Thomas, Mädchen Amick, Frank Whaley and Brion James. Hewitt appears as Adam in a story involving a scientist, a controversial cancer treatment and a dangerous technological development. The film combines medical science fiction with suspense as its characters discover that an apparently promising treatment carries a deadly secret. Though Hewitt’s role was supporting rather than leading, Bombshell is part of his late-1990s feature-film work.
2000 — Ground Zero
Ground Zero was Martin Hewitt’s final released feature-film credit, with him playing Robert Stevenson. Directed by Richard Friedman, the drama-action film follows a seismologist investigating a series of unexplained earthquakes threatening California. Janet Gunn, Jack Scalia and Reginald VelJohnson lead the cast, while Hewitt appears as part of the Stevenson family storyline. Released in 2000, the film brought his feature-film career to a close after nearly two decades of appearances across romance, comedy, horror, action and thriller productions.
Conclusion
Martin Hewitt’s movies by year show a career that began with a high-profile leading role in Endless Love and gradually moved into independent genre filmmaking. His filmography spans romantic drama, comedy, survival adventure, supernatural horror, science fiction, war movies, action, mystery and erotic thrillers. While Endless Love remains his most famous film, titles such as Killer Party, Alien Predator, Two Moon Junction and Night Rhythms demonstrate the variety of roles he took throughout his career. His final feature appearance, Ground Zero in 2000, completed a film career that covered almost twenty years.
