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Haruo Nakajima

Haruo Nakajima

Acting

Born: January 1, 1929Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Haruo Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 春雄, Hepburn: Nakajima Haruo; January 1, 1929 – August 7, 2017) was a Japanese actor and stuntman. A pioneer of suit acting, he is best known for playing Godzilla in 12 consecutive films, starting from the original Godzilla until Godzilla vs. Gigan. Nakajima also played various other kaiju in Toho's tokusatsu films, including Rodan, Mothra and The War of the Gargantuas and also appeared in minor roles in Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Stray Dog.

Known For
Filmography
The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga

The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga

Self - Suit Actor

2019
Mifune: The Last Samurai

Mifune: The Last Samurai

Self - Actor

2016
Men in Suits

Men in Suits

Self

2012
Bringing Godzilla Down to Size: The Art of Japanese Special Effects

Bringing Godzilla Down to Size: The Art of Japanese Special Effects

Himself

2008
スピリット オブ ゴジラ ~怪獣を演じた男たちの軌跡~

スピリット オブ ゴジラ ~怪獣を演じた男たちの軌跡~

2004
Godzilla, King of the Monsters

Godzilla, King of the Monsters

1998
Faces of Horror

Faces of Horror

Gezora - Kameba (archive)

1989
Godzilla 1985

Godzilla 1985

Original Godzilla (archive footage) (uncredited)

1985
Bloodthirsty Hawk

Bloodthirsty Hawk

Bloodthirsty Hawk (uncredited)

1977
Godzilla

Godzilla

Godzilla (uncredited)

1977
Submersion of Japan

Submersion of Japan

Prime Minister's Chauffeur

1973
Godzilla vs. Megalon

Godzilla vs. Megalon

Godzilla (archive footage) (uncredited)

1973
Godzilla vs. Gigan

Godzilla vs. Gigan

Godzilla / JSDF Officer / Background Comic Editor

1972
Godzilla vs. Hedorah

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

Godzilla

1971
First-Decade President vs. Second-Decade Staff

First-Decade President vs. Second-Decade Staff

1971
It's a Man's Way of Life

It's a Man's Way of Life

1970
Space Amoeba

Space Amoeba

Gezora / Ganimes

1970
All Monsters Attack

All Monsters Attack

Godzilla

1969
Latitude Zero

Latitude Zero

Griffon / Giant Rat / Bat Man

1969
Black Comedy - Ah, Fool

Black Comedy - Ah, Fool

1969
Admiral Yamamoto

Admiral Yamamoto

Staff of Flying Dragon / Staff of Rabaul

1968
Destroy All Monsters

Destroy All Monsters

Godzilla / Military Advisor

1968
Son of Godzilla

Son of Godzilla

Godzilla (water scenes)

1967
King Kong Escapes

King Kong Escapes

King Kong

1967
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Godzilla / Infant Islander

1966
What's Up, Tiger Lily?

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

Wong Henchman

1966
The War of the Gargantuas

The War of the Gargantuas

Gaira

1966
Invasion of Astro-Monster

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Godzilla

1965
Ironfinger

Ironfinger

Detective (uncredited)

1965
Key of Keys

Key of Keys

Gegen's Henchman

1965
Frankenstein Conquers the World

Frankenstein Conquers the World

Baragon / JSDF Soldier

1965
The Retreat from Kiska

The Retreat from Kiska

1965
The School of Flesh

The School of Flesh

1965
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Godzilla

1964
Dogora

Dogora

Coal plant witness

1964
Legend of the Irresponsible Hero

Legend of the Irresponsible Hero

1964
Mothra vs. Godzilla

Mothra vs. Godzilla

Godzilla

1964
Yearning

Yearning

Shopkeeper (uncredited)

1964
Atragon

Atragon

Mu Empire man / Self Defense Forces exec

1963
Matango

Matango

Matango

1963
Japan's No. 1 Playboy

Japan's No. 1 Playboy

1963
King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Godzilla (uncredited)

1963
Varan the Unbelievable

Varan the Unbelievable

Varan

1962
King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Godzilla

1962
Gorath

Gorath

Maguma

1962
Mothra

Mothra

Mothra

1961
Blueprint of Murder

Blueprint of Murder

1961
Daredevil in the Castle

Daredevil in the Castle

1961
The Human Vapor

The Human Vapor

Transitional Vapor Man (uncredited)

1960
The Storm of the Pacific

The Storm of the Pacific

1960
The Last Gunfight

The Last Gunfight

Henchman (uncredited)

1960
Saga of the Vagabonds

Saga of the Vagabonds

1959
Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender

Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender

1959
Gigantis, the Fire Monster

Gigantis, the Fire Monster

Gigantis (uncredited)

1959
The Hidden Fortress

The Hidden Fortress

Soldier (uncredited)

1958
Adults Cannot Understand - Record of Youth

Adults Cannot Understand - Record of Youth

1958
Varan

Varan

Varan

1958
The H-Man

The H-Man

Second Dissolved Sailor (uncredited)

1958
The Mysterians

The Mysterians

Giant Robot

1957
Tokyo 1960

Tokyo 1960

Godzilla

1957
Rodan! The Flying Monster

Rodan! The Flying Monster

Rodan / Meganulon (uncredited)

1957
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman

Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman

1957
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean

Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean

Godzilla (uncredited)

1957
A Man in the Storm

A Man in the Storm

1957
Rodan

Rodan

Rodan / Meganulon

1956
Rebels on the High Sea

Rebels on the High Sea

1956
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Godzilla (uncredited)

1956
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

(uncredited)

1956
I Live in Fear

I Live in Fear

Foundry employee (uncredited)

1955
Beast Man Snow Man

Beast Man Snow Man

Mountain searcher

1955
Godzilla Raids Again

Godzilla Raids Again

Godzilla

1955
Invisible Man

Invisible Man

Haruo Akita / Invisible Man Akita

1954
Godzilla

Godzilla

Godzilla

1954
Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai

Bandit

1954
Farewell Rabaul

Farewell Rabaul

Soldier (uncredited)

1954
The Eagle of the Pacific

The Eagle of the Pacific

Zero Fighter in Flames (uncredited)

1953
Mr. Pu

Mr. Pu

1953
Sword for Hire

Sword for Hire

1952