Toshirō Mifune

Born: 1920-04-01 in Qingdao, China

Died: 1997-12-24

Known For: Acting

Biography

Toshirō Mifune (April 1, 1920 - December 24, 1997) was a Japanese actor who is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema. He was born in Qingdao, China, but was raised in Japan. Mifune's career spanned over 50 years, during which he collaborated extensively with renowned director Akira Kurosawa, creating some of the most iconic films in Japanese cinema. Mifune gained international recognition for his performances in Kurosawa's films, particularly in samurai films. He portrayed strong, dynamic, and often rebellious characters, bringing a raw intensity to his roles. Some of his notable collaborations with Kurosawa include "Rashomon" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), which inspired George Lucas's "Star Wars." Apart from his work with Kurosawa, Mifune appeared in numerous other films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He played roles in various genres, including dramas, comedies, and war films. Some of his other notable films include "The Throne of Blood" (1957), "High and Low" (1963), and "Red Beard" (1965). Mifune's charismatic presence, powerful performances, and ability to convey complex emotions made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He received international recognition and awards for his contributions to the film industry, including several honors at the Venice Film Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Filmography

2016

Mifune: The Last Samurai as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)

2012

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)

2002

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress' as Self

1995

Picture Bride as The Benshi
Deep River as Tsukada

1992

Shadow of the Wolf as Kroomak

1991

Journey of Honor as Ieyasu Tokugawa
Strawberry Road as Taoka

1990

Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode as Nagao Tamekage

1989

Death of a Tea Master as Rikyu Sen-no
The Demon Comes in Spring as Kukkune no jî
cf Girl as Shūichirō Hase

1987

Tora-san Goes North as Junkichi Ueno
Princess from the Moon as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
The Shatterer as Murai
The Retired Samurai as Hikozaemon Ōkubo

1980

Shōgun as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Port Arthur as Emperor Meiji
Shogun as Lord Yoshi Toranaga

1979

1941 as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
The 47 Ronins of Ako as Tachibana Sakon
Winter Kills as Keith
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police as Sadanobu Matsudaira

1978

Falcons of Edo as Kanbei Uchiyama
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy as Yoshinao Tokugawa
The Fall of Ako Castle as Tsuchiya Michinao
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion as Kosuke Oishi
Shag as Captain Takeo Murata
Love and Faith as Taiko Hideyoshi
Lord Mito as Sakuzaemon Okumura

1977

Japanese Godfather: Ambition as Kosuke Oishi
Proof of the Man as Yohei Kori

1976

Midway as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Ronin in a Lawless Town as Mr. Danna

1975

Paper Tiger as Ambassador Kagoyama

1972

Ronin of the Wastelands as Kujuro Toge

1971

V.I.P. Schaukel as Self
Red Sun as Kuroda Jubei
Epic Chushingura as Oishi Kuranosuke
Morning for Two ... (Producer)

1970

Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo as Yojimbo/Sasa
The Walking Major as Kinugasa Tadao
The Militarists as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Ambitious as Shojiro Goto
Incident at Blood Pass as Yojimbo

1969

Battle of the Japan Sea as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Samurai Banners as Kansuke Yamamoto
Red Lion as Gonzo
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor as Isami Kondo
Safari 5000 as Yūichirō Takase

1968

Hell in the Pacific as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
Admiral Yamamoto as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
The Day the Sun Rose as Kumaza
The Sands of Kurobe as Kitagawa

1967

Samurai Rebellion as Isaburo Sasahara
Japan's Longest Day as War Minister General Korechika Anami

1966

Grand Prix as Izō Yamura
The Sword of Doom as Toranosuke Shimada
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions as Self
Adventure in Kigan Castle as Osami
Rise Against the Sword as Abare Gōemon
The Mad Atlantic as Heihachirô Murakami

1965

Red Beard as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Samurai Assassin as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Sanshiro Sugata as Shogoro Yano
Fort Graveyard as Sergeant Kosugi
The Retreat from Kiska as Omura

1964

Whirlwind as Lord Akashi

1963

High and Low as Kingo Gondo
Samurai Pirate as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Legacy of the 500,000 as Takeichi Matsuo
Attack Squadron as Lt. Colonel Senda

1962

Sanjuro as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
Chûshingura as Genba Tawaraboshi
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong as Zhang Zhizhang
Tatsu as Tatsu

1961

Yojimbo as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
The Important Man as Ánimas Trujano
Daredevil in the Castle as Mohei
The Masterless 47 – Part II
The Youth and His Amulet as Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)

1960

The Bad Sleep Well as Kôichi Nishi
The Storm of the Pacific as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
The Last Gunfight as Detective Saburo Fujioka
Man Against Man as Kaji
The Masterless 47 as Kazuo Momoi
The Gambling Samurai as Kunisada Chuji

1959

The Three Treasures as Prince Yamato Takeru
Saga of the Vagabonds as Rokuro Kai
Desperado Outpost as Battalion Commander
The Big Boss as Kashimura
Samurai Saga as Heihachiro Komaki

1958

The Hidden Fortress as General Rokurota Makabe
The Rickshaw Man as Matsugorō Tomishima
Yaji and Kita on the Road as Toshinoshin Taya
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II as Tasaburo
Holiday in Tokyo as Tenkai's nephew Jirō
All About Marriage as Acting teacher
Theater of Life

1957

Throne of Blood as Taketoki Washizu
The Lower Depths as Sutekichi the Thief
Yagyu Secret Scrolls as Tasaburō Kasumi
Downtown as Yoshio Tsuruishi
Good Luck to These Two as Toshio Maruyama
A Dangerous Hero as Kawada
A Man in the Storm as Saburō Watari

1956

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
A Wife's Heart as Kenkichi
Scoundrel as Kanji
The Underworld as Chief Inspector Kumada
Settlement of Love as Shuntarō Ōhira
Rainy Night Duel as Masahiko Koseki
Rebels on the High Sea as Matsuo Tokuzō

1955

I Live in Fear as Kiichi Nakajima
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
No Time for Tears as Mitsuo Yano
All is Well as Daikichi Risshun
All is Well 2 as Daikichi Risshun
A Man Among Men as "Buick" Maki

1954

Seven Samurai as Kikuchiyo
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
The Black Fury as Eiichi Tsuda
The Surf as Skipper of the Utashima-maru

1953

The Eagle of the Pacific as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
The Last Embrace as Shinkichi / Hayakawa
Sunflower Girl as Ippei Hitachi
My Wonderful Yellow Car as Matsumura

1952

The Life of Oharu as Katsunosuke
Sword for Hire as Sasa Hayatenosuke
The Man Who Came to Port as Gorō Niinuma
Tokyo Sweetheart as Kurokawa
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Foghorn as Chiyokichi
Vendetta of a Samurai as Mataemon Araki
Swift Current as Shunsuke Kosugi

1951

The Idiot as Denkichi Akama
Sasaki Kojiro as Miyamoto Musashi
Elegy as Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
Who Knows a Woman's Heart as Mizuno
The Life of a Horse Trader as Yonetaro Katayama
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre as Kenji Kawakami
Beyond Love and Hate as Gorō Sakata
Pirates as Tora

1950

Rashomon as Tajômaru
Scandal as Ichirô Aoye
Wedding Ring as Takeshi Ema
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka as Teisaku Nagasawa
Escape from Prison as Shinkichi

1949

Stray Dog as Det. Murakami
The Quiet Duel as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
Jakoman and Tetsu as Tetsu

1948

Drunken Angel as Matsunaga

1947

Snow Trail as Eijima
These Foolish Times as Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss