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