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Toshirō Mifune

Toshirō Mifune

Acting

Born: April 1, 1920Qingdao, China

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
Filmography
Mifune: The Last Samurai

Mifune: The Last Samurai

Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)

2016
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

(archive footage)

2012
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'

Self

2002
Picture Bride

Picture Bride

The Benshi

1995
Deep River

Deep River

Tsukada

1995
Shadow of the Wolf

Shadow of the Wolf

Kroomak

1992
Strawberry Road

Strawberry Road

Taoka

1991
Journey of Honor

Journey of Honor

Ieyasu Tokugawa

1991
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode

Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode

Nagao Tamekage

1990
cf Girl

cf Girl

Shūichirō Hase

1989
Death of a Tea Master

Death of a Tea Master

Rikyu Sen-no

1989
The Demon Comes in Spring

The Demon Comes in Spring

Kukkune no jî

1989
Princess from the Moon

Princess from the Moon

Taketori-no-Miyatsuko

1987
The Retired Samurai

The Retired Samurai

Hikozaemon Ōkubo

1987
Tora-san Goes North

Tora-san Goes North

Junkichi Ueno

1987
The Shatterer

The Shatterer

Murai

1987
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai

The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai

Kyūbei Matsufuji

1986
No More God, No More Love

No More God, No More Love

Kōzō Kanzaki

1985
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel

The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel

Fisherman

1984
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire

Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire

Shūsai Kondō

1984
Secret of the Forbidden Valley

Secret of the Forbidden Valley

1983
The Women of Osaka Castle

The Women of Osaka Castle

Tokugawa Ieyasu

1983
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass

Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass

Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô

1983
Battle Anthem

Battle Anthem

Admiral Heihachiro Togo

1983
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl

Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl

Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô

1983
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell

Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell

Sanjuro Hinoki

1983
Theater Of Life

Theater Of Life

Hyōtarō Aonari

1983
Domineering

Domineering

Masao Tadokoro

1982
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood

Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood

Sanjuro Hinoki

1982
The Challenge

The Challenge

Toru Yoshida

1982
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn

The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn

1982
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2

Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2

Tamon Umei

1982
Lowly Ronin

Lowly Ronin

Sanjuro Hinoki

1981
The Bushido Blade

The Bushido Blade

Shogun's Commander

1981
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1

Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1

Tamon Umei

1981
Inchon

Inchon

Saito-San

1981
Port Arthur

Port Arthur

Emperor Meiji

1980
1941

1941

Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura

1979
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police

Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police

Sadanobu Matsudaira

1979
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi

The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi

Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"

1979
Winter Kills

Winter Kills

Keith

1979
Lord Mito

Lord Mito

Sakuzaemon Okumura

1978
The Fall of Ako Castle

The Fall of Ako Castle

Tsuchiya Michinao

1978
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion

Japanese Godfather: Conclusion

Kosuke Oishi

1978
Love and Faith

Love and Faith

Taiko Hideyoshi

1978
Shag

Shag

Captain Takeo Murata

1978
Shogun's Samurai

Shogun's Samurai

Yoshinao Tokugawa

1978
Japanese Godfather: Ambition

Japanese Godfather: Ambition

Kosuke Oishi

1977
Proof of the Man

Proof of the Man

Yohei Kori

1977
Midway

Midway

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

1976
Paper Tiger

Paper Tiger

Ambassador Kagoyama

1975
Red Sun

Red Sun

Kuroda Jubei

1971
The Militarists

The Militarists

Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto

1970
The Walking Major

The Walking Major

Kinugasa Tadao

1970
Incident at Blood Pass

Incident at Blood Pass

Yojimbo

1970
The Ambitious

The Ambitious

Shojiro Goto

1970
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo

Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo

Yojimbo/Sasa

1970
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor

Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor

Isami Kondo

1969
Red Lion

Red Lion

Gonzo

1969
Battle of the Japan Sea

Battle of the Japan Sea

Admiral Heihachiro Togo

1969
Safari 5000

Safari 5000

Yūichirō Takase

1969
Samurai Banners

Samurai Banners

Kansuke Yamamoto

1969
Hell in the Pacific

Hell in the Pacific

Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda

1968

The Day the Sun Rose

Kumaza

1968
Admiral Yamamoto

Admiral Yamamoto

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

1968
The Sands of Kurobe

The Sands of Kurobe

Kitagawa

1968
Japan's Longest Day

Japan's Longest Day

War Minister General Korechika Anami

1967
Samurai Rebellion

Samurai Rebellion

Isaburo Sasahara

1967
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions

Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions

Self

1966
Grand Prix

Grand Prix

Izō Yamura

1966
The Mad Atlantic

The Mad Atlantic

Heihachirô Murakami

1966
Adventure in Kigan Castle

Adventure in Kigan Castle

Osami

1966
The Sword of Doom

The Sword of Doom

Toranosuke Shimada

1966
Rise Against the Sword

Rise Against the Sword

Abare Gōemon

1966
Fort Graveyard

Fort Graveyard

Sergeant Kosugi

1965
The Retreat from Kiska

The Retreat from Kiska

Omura

1965
Sanshiro Sugata

Sanshiro Sugata

Shogoro Yano

1965
Red Beard

Red Beard

Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")

1965
Samurai Assassin

Samurai Assassin

Tsuruchiyo Niiro

1965
Whirlwind

Whirlwind

Lord Akashi

1964
Samurai Pirate

Samurai Pirate

Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]

1963
Legacy of the 500,000

Legacy of the 500,000

Takeichi Matsuo

1963
High and Low

High and Low

Kingo Gondo

1963
Attack Squadron

Attack Squadron

Lt. Colonel Senda

1963
Chûshingura

Chûshingura

Genba Tawaraboshi

1962
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong

Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong

Zhang Zhizhang

1962
Home-Brewed Tatsu

Home-Brewed Tatsu

Tatsu

1962
Sanjuro

Sanjuro

Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin

1962
The Important Man

The Important Man

Ánimas Trujano

1961
The Youth and His Amulet

The Youth and His Amulet

Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)

1961
Yojimbo

Yojimbo

Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai

1961
The Masterless 47 – Part II

The Masterless 47 – Part II

1961
Daredevil in the Castle

Daredevil in the Castle

Mohei

1961
The Masterless 47

The Masterless 47

Kazuo Momoi

1960
The Bad Sleep Well

The Bad Sleep Well

Kôichi Nishi

1960
Man Against Man

Man Against Man

Kaji

1960
The Storm of the Pacific

The Storm of the Pacific

Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi

1960
The Gambling Samurai

The Gambling Samurai

Kunisada Chuji

1960
The Last Gunfight

The Last Gunfight

Detective Saburo Fujioka

1960
The Three Treasures

The Three Treasures

Prince Yamato Takeru

1959
Desperado Outpost

Desperado Outpost

Battalion Commander

1959
Saga of the Vagabonds

Saga of the Vagabonds

Rokuro Kai

1959
Samurai Saga

Samurai Saga

Heihachiro Komaki

1959
The Big Boss

The Big Boss

Kashimura

1959
The Hidden Fortress

The Hidden Fortress

General Rokurota Makabe

1958
Theater of Life

Theater of Life

1958
All About Marriage

All About Marriage

Acting teacher

1958
Yaji and Kita on the Road

Yaji and Kita on the Road

Toshinoshin Taya

1958
The Rickshaw Man

The Rickshaw Man

Matsugorō Tomishima

1958
Holiday in Tokyo

Holiday in Tokyo

Tenkai's nephew Jirō

1958
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II

Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II

Tasaburo

1958
Down Town

Down Town

Yoshio Tsuruishi

1957
The Lower Depths

The Lower Depths

Sutekichi the Thief

1957
A Dangerous Hero

A Dangerous Hero

Kawada

1957
Yagyu Secret Scrolls

Yagyu Secret Scrolls

Tasaburō Kasumi

1957
Good Luck to These Two

Good Luck to These Two

Toshio Maruyama

1957
A Man in the Storm

A Man in the Storm

Saburō Watari

1957
Throne of Blood

Throne of Blood

Taketoki Washizu

1957
Rebels on the High Sea

Rebels on the High Sea

Matsuo Tokuzō

1956
Scoundrel

Scoundrel

Kanji

1956
A Wife's Heart

A Wife's Heart

Kenkichi

1956
Settlement of Love

Settlement of Love

Shuntarō Ōhira

1956
The Underworld

The Underworld

Chief Inspector Kumada

1956
Rainy Night Duel

Rainy Night Duel

Masahiko Koseki

1956
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

1956
I Live in Fear

I Live in Fear

Kiichi Nakajima

1955
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple

Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

1955
No Time for Tears

No Time for Tears

Mitsuo Yano

1955
All is Well 2

All is Well 2

Daikichi Risshun

1955
All is Well

All is Well

Daikichi Risshun

1955
A Man Among Men

A Man Among Men

"Buick" Maki

1955
The Black Fury

The Black Fury

Eiichi Tsuda

1954
The Surf

The Surf

Skipper of the Utashima-maru

1954
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

1954
Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai

Kikuchiyo

1954
The Eagle of the Pacific

The Eagle of the Pacific

1st Lieutenant Tomonaga

1953
Sunflower Girl

Sunflower Girl

Ippei Hitachi

1953
The Last Embrace

The Last Embrace

Shinkichi / Hayakawa

1953
My Wonderful Yellow Car

My Wonderful Yellow Car

Matsumura

1953
The Man Who Came to Port

The Man Who Came to Port

Gorō Niinuma

1952
Swift Current

Swift Current

Shunsuke Kosugi

1952
Tokyo Sweetheart

Tokyo Sweetheart

Kurokawa

1952
Sword for Hire

Sword for Hire

Sasa Hayatenosuke

1952
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl

1952
The Life of Oharu

The Life of Oharu

Katsunosuke

1952
Foghorn

Foghorn

Chiyokichi

1952
Vendetta of a Samurai

Vendetta of a Samurai

Mataemon Araki

1952
Who Knows a Woman's Heart

Who Knows a Woman's Heart

Mizuno

1951
The Life of a Horse Trader

The Life of a Horse Trader

Yonetaro Katayama

1951
Sasaki Kojiro

Sasaki Kojiro

Miyamoto Musashi

1951
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre

Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre

Kenji Kawakami

1951
Pirates

Pirates

Tora

1951
The Idiot

The Idiot

Denkichi Akama

1951
Elegy

Elegy

Prosecutor Daisuke Toki

1951
Beyond Love and Hate

Beyond Love and Hate

Gorō Sakata

1951
Rashomon

Rashomon

Tajômaru

1950
Wedding Ring

Wedding Ring

Takeshi Ema

1950
Scandal

Scandal

Ichirô Aoye

1950
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka

Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka

Teisaku Nagasawa

1950
Escape from Prison

Escape from Prison

Shinkichi

1950
Stray Dog

Stray Dog

Det. Murakami

1949
Jakoman and Tetsu

Jakoman and Tetsu

Tetsu

1949
The Quiet Duel

The Quiet Duel

Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki

1949
Drunken Angel

Drunken Angel

Matsunaga

1948
These Foolish Times

These Foolish Times

Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss

1947
Snow Trail

Snow Trail

Eijima

1947