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