Haruo Nakajima
Haruo Nakajima (中島 春雄 Nakajima Haruo) (born January 1, 1929 in Yamagata, Japan) is a famous Japanese actor. He is best known for playing Godzilla and is considered by many to be the best suit actor in the long history of the franchise. At the time, Toho's visual effects director, Eiji Tsuburaya considered Nakajima completely invaluable, and was employed to essay the roles of most of the kaiju (Japanese monsters) during his reign as the King of the Monsters (1954–1972). After 23 years, Nakajima retired from suit acting upon completion of Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), when the studio cycled him out of their contract actor system, after Toho had been split into several subsidiaries in 1970. Nakajima was still employed by Toho for several years, and was transferred to a job at Toho's bowling alley, located on the studio lot (now defunct).
Starting in the late 1990s, Nakajima made a series of personal appearances in Chicago, New York City, New Jersey, and Hollywood (in 2000) at various Japanese monster-themed conventions. He appeared at the Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank, California on April 8–10, 2011. His Japanese-language autobiography, 『怪獣人生 元祖ゴジラ俳優・中島春雄』(Monster Life: Haruo Nakajima, The Original Godzilla Actor), published by Yosensha, was released on July 17, 2010.
[edit] Films (incomplete listing)
- 1952 - Sword For Hire
- 1952 - The Woman Who Touched the Legs
- 1953 - Eagle of the Pacific
- 1954 - Farewell Rabaul
- 1954 - Seven Samurai
- 1954 - Godzilla (Godzilla)
- 1954 - Tomei Ningen
- 1955 - Meoto zenzai
- 1955 - Godzilla Raids Again (Godzilla)
- 1956 - Madame Whitesnake
- 1956 - Rodan (Rodan, Meganulon)
- 1957 - The Mysterians (Mogera)
- 1958 - Varan the Unbelievable (Varan)
- 1958 - The H-Man
- 1958 - The Hidden Fortress
- 1959 - Boss of the Underworld
- 1959 - Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender
- 1959 - Desperado Outpost
- 1959 - The Last Gunfight
- 1960 - Secret of the Telegian
- 1960 - Storm Over the Pacific
- 1960 - Westward Desperado
- 1960 - The Human Vapor
- 1961 - Yojimbo
- 1961 - Daredevil in the Castle
- 1961 - Mothra (Mothra)
- 1961 - The Last War
- 1962 - Gorath (Maguma)
- 1962 - King Kong vs. Godzilla (Godzilla)
- 1962 - Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki
- 1963 - Wings Over the Pacific
- 1963 - Sengoku Yaro
- 1963 - Matango (Matango)
- 1963 - Atragon
- 1964 - Mothra vs. Godzilla (Godzilla)
- 1964 - Dogora, the Space Monster
- 1964 - Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (Godzilla)
- 1965 - Retreat from Kiska
- 1965 - Frankenstein vs. Baragon (Baragon)
- 1965 - Invasion of the Astro-Monster (Godzilla)
- 1966 - The War of the Gargantuas (Gaira)
- 1966 - Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (Godzilla)
- 1967 - Son of Godzilla (Godzilla; water scenes only)
- 1967 - King Kong Escapes (King Kong)
- 1968 - Destroy All Monsters (Godzilla, Military Adviser)
- 1969 - Latitude Zero (Gryphon, Manbat, Giant Rat, Lion)
- 1969 - All Monsters Attack (Godzilla)
- 1970 - Space Amoeba (Gezora, Ganime)
- 1971 - Godzilla vs. Hedorah (Godzilla)
- 1972 - Godzilla vs. Gigan (Godzilla, Comic Book Publisher, Defense Forces Officer)
- 1973 - Japan Sinks (Prime Minister's Chauffeur)
[edit] TV (incomplete listing)
- 1966 - Ultra Q (Gomess, Pagos)
- 1966, 1967 - Ultraman (Neronga, Gabora, Jirass, Kiyla)
- 1967, 1968 - Ultra Seven (U-Tom)
[edit] External links
- Haruo Nakajima at the Internet Movie Database
- Roberto, John Rocco. Shigeko Kojima (trans.) Winter 1999. "An Interview with Godzilla: Hauro Nakajima", Kaiju Fan Online. Originally published in Kaiju Fan.
