Keizô Murase
Born: 1935-10-05 in Ikeda, Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan
Died: 2024-10-14
Known For: Costume & Make-Up
Biography
Keizō Murase (村瀬継蔵, Murase Keizō; October 5, 1935 – October 14, 2024) was a Japanese suitmaker, stuntman, sculptor, modeller, and film director. He is particularly well known for his work in giant monster films, including Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), and The Mighty Peking Man (1977). In 1958, Toho hired Murase to sculpt the Varan suit for Varan the Unbelievable. An amateur photographer, Murase extensively documented his work, which was published in his 2015 autobiography, Monster Maker: Keizo Murase. After working for Daiei Film on Gamera, he, Masao Yagi, and Akira Suzuki founded the modelling company Ex Productions; he later left in 1972 to form his own company, Twenty. Murase died from cirrhosis of the liver on October 14, 2024, at the age of 89.
Filmography
2026
- Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker as Self (Archival footage)
2024
- Brush of the God ... (Modelling Supervisor)
2019
- Howl from Beyond the Fog ... (Special Effects)
1986
- The Seventh Curse ... (Special Effects)
1977
- The Mighty Peking Man as Ah Wang / Peking Man (stunts)
1976
- The Snake Prince ... (Modeling)
1975
- Terror of Mechagodzilla ... (Costume Design)
1973
- Kure Kure Takora ... (Costume Design)
1969
- Register of Deities ... (Modeling)
1967
- Gamera vs. Gyaos ... (Costume Design)
- Yongary, Monster from the Deep ... (Costume Design)
1966
- Ultra Q ... (Costume Design)
- Ebirah, Horror of the Deep ... (Costume Designer)
- Gammera the Invincible ... (Costume Design)
1965
- Gamera, the Giant Monster ... (Costume Design)
1964
- Mothra vs. Godzilla ... (Costume Design)
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster ... (Costume Design)
- Dogora ... (Modeling)
1963
- King Kong vs. Godzilla ... (Sculptor)
- Matango ... (Modeling)
1962
- King Kong vs. Godzilla ... (Costume Designer)
1958
- Varan ... (Costume Design)