Boni Yanagisawa, the daughter of a Japanese-Hawaiian father and Caucasian mother from Pasadena, grew up in Southern California, where she was immersed in her parents' nursery business. It was no surprise that she developed a strong sense of community and leadership, evident in her various extracurricular activities, including being a Girl Scout, cheerleader, homecoming queen, and Miss Lake Elsinore.
Despite her parents' wishes, Boni pursued her passion for martial arts, earning a black belt and opening her own dojo to teach karate. Her dedication and expertise led her to compete internationally with Team Kani, and in 1999, she was inducted into the National Blackbelt League Hall of Fame. Two years later, she was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the martial arts and inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame.
Boni's impressive resume also includes appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where she has been a three-time guest. She has also worked as a stunt double for numerous A-list celebrities, including Halle Barry, Zoe Saldana, Lucy Lui, Vanessa Williams, Eva Mendes, BaiLing, Lindsay Price, Gong Li, and Jolene Blalock in Star Trek: Enterprise.
Recent projects have seen Boni work on blockbuster films such as "Battleship," directed by Peter Berg, and the comedy "Zookeeper," starring Kevin James. She has also doubled for Maggie Q in "Priest," Jessica Alba in "Spy Kids 4," and Demi Moore in "Charlie's Angels - Full Throttle" and "Mr. Brooks," alongside Kevin Costner and Dane Cook.
Throughout her long and successful career, Boni has accumulated over 100 stunt credits in television and film, as well as over a dozen acting credits. Her remarkable journey is a testament to her perseverance, talent, and dedication to her craft.
