Toshirō Mifune
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.
Known for
Seven Samurai
Kikuchiyo
Shōgun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Rashomon
Tajômaru
Throne of Blood
Taketori Washizu
Epic Chushingura
Oishi Kuranosuke
Yojimbo
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
Midway
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
High and Low
Kingo Gondo
Grand Prix
Izō Yamura
The Bad Sleep Well
Kôichi Nishi
Red Sun
Kuroda Jubei
Stray Dog
Det. Murakami
Red Beard
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Japan's Longest Day
War Minister General Korechika Anami
Chûshingura
Genba Tawaraboshi
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Port Arthur
Emperor Meiji
Winter Kills
Keith
The Life of Oharu
Katsunosuke
Samurai Rebellion
Isaburo Sasahara
Hell in the Pacific
Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
Battle Anthem
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Proof of the Man
Yohei Kori
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
The 47 Ronins of Ako
Tachibana Sakon
Battle of the Japan Sea
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Drunken Angel
Matsunaga
Samurai Assassin
Tsuruchiyo Niiro
The Hidden Fortress
General Rokurota Makabe
The Idiot
Denkichi Akama
Mifune: The Last Samurai
Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
Sanjuro
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
I Live in Fear
Kiichi Nakajima
Falcons of Edo
Kanbei Uchiyama
Samurai Pirate
Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Yojimbo/Sasa
The Challenge
Toru Yoshida
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
The Lower Depths
Sutekichi the Thief
The Rickshaw Man
Matsugorō Tomishima
1941
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Inchon
Saito-San
Burning Mountain River
Otsuichi Amo
Scandal
Ichirô Aoye
The Retreat from Kiska
Omura
The Eagle of the Pacific
1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
Daredevil in the Castle
Mohei
Tuesday Suspense Theater
The Quiet Duel
Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
Shadow of the Wolf
Kroomak
The Militarists
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
Fort Graveyard
Sergeant Kosugi
Shogun's Samurai
Yoshinao Tokugawa
Incident at Blood Pass
Yojimbo
Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity
Self (archive footage)
The Fall of Ako Castle
Tsuchiya Michinao
The Three Treasures
Prince Yamato Takeru
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Kosuke Oishi
Rise Against the Sword
Abare Gōemon
Desperado Outpost
Battalion Commander
Princess from the Moon
Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Osami
The Last Gunfight
Detective Saburo Fujioka
Attack Squadron
Lt. Colonel Senda
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Tasaburō Kasumi
Picture Bride
The Benshi
Legacy of the 500,000
Takeichi Matsuo
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
Self
The Big Boss
Kashimura
Samurai Banners
Kansuke Yamamoto
Samurai Saga
Heihachiro Komaki
Tokyo Sweetheart
Kurokawa
The Man Who Came to Port
Gorō Niinuma
The Day the Sun Rose
Kumaza
Paper Tiger
Ambassador Kagoyama
The Ambitious
Shojiro Goto
Sanshiro Sugata
Shogoro Yano
Theater Of Life
Hyōtarō Aonari
All About Marriage
Acting teacher
Strawberry Road
Taoka
The Bushido Blade
Shogun's Commander
The Sands of Kurobe
Kitagawa
Sasaki Kojiro
Miyamoto Musashi
A Man in the Storm
Saburō Watari
The Sword of Doom
Toranosuke Shimada
The Gambling Samurai
Kunisada Chuji
Ronin of the Wastelands
Kujuro Toge
Vendetta of a Samurai
Mataemon Araki
Journey of Honor
Ieyasu Tokugawa
A Wife's Heart
Kenkichi
Whirlwind
Lord Akashi
Shag
Captain Takeo Murata
The Black Fury
Eiichi Tsuda
A Dangerous Hero
Kawada
Tora-san Goes North
Junkichi Ueno
Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman
Self (archive footage)
Sekigahara
Sakon Shima
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Isami Kondo
Saga of the Vagabonds
Rokuro Kai
Kurosawa
Self (archive footage)
Doburoku no Tatsu
Tatsu
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Zhang Zhizhang
The Making of '1941'
Self (archive footage)
The Mad Atlantic
Heihachirô Murakami
Sword for Hire
Sasa Hayatenosuke
Love and Faith
Taiko Hideyoshi
Elegy
Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
The Walking Major
Kinugasa Tadao
Red Lion
Gonzo
Down Town
Yoshio Tsuruishi
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
Self
The Underworld
Chief Inspector Kumada
Settlement of Love
Shuntarō Ōhira
Domineering
Masao Tadokoro
The Masterless 47
Kazuo Momoi
Lowly Ronin
Sanjuro Hinoki
No Time for Tears
Mitsuo Yano
The Masterless 47 – Part II
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
A Man Among Men
"Buick" Maki
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Toshinoshin Taya
Beyond Love and Hate
Gorō Sakata
A Holiday in Tokyo
Tenkai's nephew Jirō
Pirates
Tora
Rebels on the High Sea
Matsuo Tokuzō
Death of a Tea Master
Rikyu Sen-no
The Storm of the Pacific
Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
All is Well
Daikichi Risshun
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Sanjuro Hinoki
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
Man Against Man
Kaji
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Kosuke Oishi
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
Kyūbei Matsufuji
Sunflower Girl
Ippei Hitachi
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Mizuno
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Nagao Tamekage
The Demon Comes in Spring
Kukkune no jî
The Life of a Horse Trader
Yonetaro Katayama
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Tamon Umei
No More God, No More Love
Kōzō Kanzaki
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Tasaburo
Good Luck to These Two
Toshio Maruyama
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Sanjuro Hinoki
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
Fisherman
Rainy Night Duel
Masahiko Koseki
Lord Mito
Sakuzaemon Okumura
The Last Embrace
Shinkichi / Hayakawa
The Shatterer
Murai
All is Well 2
Daikichi Risshun
The Important Man
Ánimas Trujano
The Youth and His Amulet
Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
The Surf
Skipper of the Utashima-maru
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Kenji Kawakami
These Foolish Times
Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
Shogun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Safari 5000
Yūichirō Takase
Jakoman and Tetsu
Tetsu
Deep River
Tsukada
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Sadanobu Matsudaira
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Matsumura
Snow Trail
Eijima
Swift Current
Shunsuke Kosugi
Theater of Life
The Women of Osaka Castle
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Tamon Umei
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Teisaku Nagasawa
Wedding Ring
Takeshi Ema
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
Foghorn
Chiyokichi
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Shūsai Kondō
Escape from Prison
Shinkichi
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
cf Girl
Shūichirō Hase
Ronin in a Lawless Town
Mr. Danna
The Retired Samurai
Hikozaemon Ōkubo
Scoundrel
Kanji
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self