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| caption = Akira Takarada - detail from movie poster of Japanese movie ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954) |
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Revision as of 21:01, 30 September 2009
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Akira Takarada | |
|---|---|
 Akira Takarada - detail from movie poster of Japanese movie Godzilla (1954) | |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, tarento |
| Years active | 1954-present |
Akira Takarada (宝田 明, Takarada Akira, April 29, 1934 -) is a Japanese film actor who is most known for his roles in the Godzilla film series.
Overview
Takarada was born in Harbin, China. His father worked as an engineer on the South Manchuria Railway. After the war, he remained in Harbin, China, the city of his birth. He is able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English.
He made his film debut in 1949 with a small role in When the Liberty Bell Rang and after several small roles came his big break as navy diver Hideto Ogata in the original Godzilla (1954). He became a popular actor at Toho for his good looks and charismatic, sophisticated character. He continued his association with the Godzilla series in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966). He returned to the series in 1992 with Godzilla vs. Mothra and appeared again in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Other Toho science-fiction/special-effects films in which he appeared include Half Human (1958), The Last War (1961), Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), King Kong Escapes (1967), and Latitude Zero (1969).
Toho prepared a musical production of Gone with the Wind with Broadway composer-lyricist Harold Rome for its new Teigeki theater in 1970. Entitled Scarlett, Takarada was originally scheduled to play the role of Rhett Butler. However, injuries sustained in an accident in which he fell off a bulldozer while filming prevented him from participating in this stage production.[1]
Today he is still well-known in Japan through his appearances in TV dramas, quiz shows and commercials.
Roles
Film
- A Rainbow Plays in My Heart (わが胸に虹は消えず Waga mune ni niji wa kiezu) (1957)
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Gojira | Hideto Ogata |
| 1955 | Monster Snowman | Takeshi Iijima |
| 1956 | Romantic Daughters (ロマンス娘 Romansu musume) | |
| 1957 | Ōatari Sanshoku Musume | |
| Aoi Sanmyaku | Tamao Memata | |
| 1959 | The Birth of Japan | Prince Wakatarashi |
| 1960 | Hawaii Midway Daikai Kūsan: Taiheiyō Noarashi | Communications officer |
| 1961 | Great World War | Takano |
| Kohayagawa-ke no Aki | Tadashi Teramoto | |
| 1962 | Hōrōki | Kō Fukuchi |
| 1964 | Mothra vs. Godzilla | News Reporter Ichirō Sakai |
| 1965 | Great Monster Battle | Astronaut K. Fuji |
| 1966 | Gojira, Ebira, Mothra: Big Duel in the South Sea | Yoshimura |
| 1967 | King Kong's Counterattack | Lieutenant Commander Jirō Nomura |
| 1968 | Fancy Paradise | Kō Maeno |
| 1969 | Latitude Zero | Doctor Ken Tashirō |
| 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective | Ratigan (voice) |
| 1990 | Ageman | Inukai |
| 1992 | Minbo no Onna | General Manager Kobayashi |
| Godzilla vs. Mothra | Jōji Minamino | |
| Aladdin | Jafar (voice) | |
| 1994 | The Return of Jafar | Jafar (voice) |
| 1997 | Marutai no Onna | Police commissioner |
| 2004 | Godzilla: Final Wars | Natarō Daigo |
| 2005 | Fantastipo | Kintarō Koinobori |
Television
Television drama
- Rokkā no Hanako-san (Kaichō Tatsumi)
- Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! (Shōtarō Hakuchō)
- Taishi Shōtoku (Mononobe no Moriya)
- Watashi no Aozora (Jōji Murai)
- Yoshinobu Tokugawa (Masamichi Takatsukasa)
Dubbing roles
- The Ambushers (Matt Helm)
- Murderers' Row (Matt Helm)
Animation
- Disney's House of Mouse (Jafar)
Video games
- Kingdom Hearts (Jafar)
- Kingdom Hearts II (Jafar)
Stage productions
Other
- Tokyo Disneyland attraction: Country Bear Jamboree (Henry)
References
- ^ Rome, Florence (1971). The Scarlett Letters. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-46171-1., p.154.