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.
Filmography
Mifune: The Last Samurai
as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
Mifune: The Last Samurai
as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
as Self
Picture Bride
as The Benshi
Picture Bride
as The Benshi
Deep River
as Tsukada
Deep River
as Tsukada
Shadow of the Wolf
as Kroomak
Shadow of the Wolf
as Kroomak
Journey of Honor
as Ieyasu Tokugawa
Journey of Honor
as Ieyasu Tokugawa
Strawberry Road
as Taoka
Strawberry Road
as Taoka
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
as Nagao Tamekage
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
as Nagao Tamekage
Death of a Tea Master
as Rikyu Sen-no
Death of a Tea Master
as Rikyu Sen-no
cf Girl
as Shūichirō Hase
cf Girl
as Shūichirō Hase
The Demon Comes in Spring
as Kukkune no jî
The Demon Comes in Spring
as Kukkune no jî
Princess from the Moon
as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
Princess from the Moon
as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
The Retired Samurai
as Hikozaemon Ōkubo
The Retired Samurai
as Hikozaemon Ōkubo
Tora-san Goes North
as Junkichi Ueno
Tora-san Goes North
as Junkichi Ueno
The Shatterer
as Murai
The Shatterer
as Murai
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
as Kyūbei Matsufuji
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
as Kyūbei Matsufuji
No More God, No More Love
as Kōzō Kanzaki
No More God, No More Love
as Kōzō Kanzaki
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
as Fisherman
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
as Fisherman
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
as Shūsai Kondō
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
as Shūsai Kondō
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
The Women of Osaka Castle
as Tokugawa Ieyasu
The Women of Osaka Castle
as Tokugawa Ieyasu
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
as Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
as Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
Battle Anthem
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Battle Anthem
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
as Sanjuro Hinoki
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
as Sanjuro Hinoki
Theater Of Life
as Hyōtarō Aonari
Theater Of Life
as Hyōtarō Aonari
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
as Sanjuro Hinoki
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
as Sanjuro Hinoki
Domineering
as Masao Tadokoro
Domineering
as Masao Tadokoro
The Challenge
as Toru Yoshida
The Challenge
as Toru Yoshida
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
as Tamon Umei
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
as Tamon Umei
Lowly Ronin
as Sanjuro Hinoki
Lowly Ronin
as Sanjuro Hinoki
The Bushido Blade
as Shogun's Commander
The Bushido Blade
as Shogun's Commander
Inchon
as Saito-San
Inchon
as Saito-San
Shogun
as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Shogun
as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Port Arthur
as Emperor Meiji
Port Arthur
as Emperor Meiji
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
as Sadanobu Matsudaira
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
as Sadanobu Matsudaira
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
Winter Kills
as Keith
Winter Kills
as Keith
Lord Mito
as Sakuzaemon Okumura
Lord Mito
as Sakuzaemon Okumura
The Fall of Ako Castle
as Tsuchiya Michinao
The Fall of Ako Castle
as Tsuchiya Michinao
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
as Kosuke Oishi
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
as Kosuke Oishi
Love and Faith
as Taiko Hideyoshi
Love and Faith
as Taiko Hideyoshi
Shag
as Captain Takeo Murata
Shag
as Captain Takeo Murata
Shogun's Samurai
as Yoshinao Tokugawa
Shogun's Samurai
as Yoshinao Tokugawa
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
as Kosuke Oishi
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
as Kosuke Oishi
Proof of the Man
as Yohei Kori
Proof of the Man
as Yohei Kori
Midway
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Midway
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Paper Tiger
as Ambassador Kagoyama
Paper Tiger
as Ambassador Kagoyama
The Militarists
as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Militarists
as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Ambitious
as Shojiro Goto
The Ambitious
as Shojiro Goto
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
as Isami Kondo
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
as Isami Kondo
Battle of the Japan Sea
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Battle of the Japan Sea
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Safari 5000
as Yūichirō Takase
Safari 5000
as Yūichirō Takase
The Day the Sun Rose
as Kumaza
The Day the Sun Rose
as Kumaza
Admiral Yamamoto
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Admiral Yamamoto
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Japan's Longest Day
as War Minister General Korechika Anami
Japan's Longest Day
as War Minister General Korechika Anami
Samurai Rebellion
as Isaburo Sasahara
Samurai Rebellion
as Isaburo Sasahara
Grand Prix
as Izō Yamura
Grand Prix
as Izō Yamura
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
as Self
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
as Self
The Mad Atlantic
as Heihachirô Murakami
The Mad Atlantic
as Heihachirô Murakami
The Sword of Doom
as Toranosuke Shimada
The Sword of Doom
as Toranosuke Shimada
Fort Graveyard
as Sergeant Kosugi
Fort Graveyard
as Sergeant Kosugi
The Retreat from Kiska
as Omura
The Retreat from Kiska
as Omura
Red Beard
as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Red Beard
as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Samurai Assassin
as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Samurai Assassin
as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Samurai Pirate
as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Samurai Pirate
as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Attack Squadron
as Lt. Colonel Senda
Attack Squadron
as Lt. Colonel Senda
Chûshingura
as Genba Tawaraboshi
Chûshingura
as Genba Tawaraboshi
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
as Zhang Zhizhang
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
as Zhang Zhizhang
Tatsu
as Tatsu
Tatsu
as Tatsu
The Important Man
as Ánimas Trujano
The Important Man
as Ánimas Trujano
The Masterless 47 – Part II
The Masterless 47 – Part II
Daredevil in the Castle
as Mohei
Daredevil in the Castle
as Mohei
The Bad Sleep Well
as Kôichi Nishi
The Bad Sleep Well
as Kôichi Nishi
The Storm of the Pacific
as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
The Storm of the Pacific
as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
Samurai Saga
as Heihachiro Komaki
Samurai Saga
as Heihachiro Komaki
Holiday in Tokyo
as Tenkai's nephew Jirō
Holiday in Tokyo
as Tenkai's nephew Jirō
The Lower Depths
as Sutekichi the Thief
The Lower Depths
as Sutekichi the Thief
A Dangerous Hero
as Kawada
A Dangerous Hero
as Kawada
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
as Tasaburō Kasumi
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
as Tasaburō Kasumi
A Man in the Storm
as Saburō Watari
A Man in the Storm
as Saburō Watari
Throne of Blood
as Taketoki Washizu
Throne of Blood
as Taketoki Washizu
Rebels on the High Sea
as Matsuo Tokuzō
Rebels on the High Sea
as Matsuo Tokuzō
Scoundrel
as Kanji
Scoundrel
as Kanji
A Wife's Heart
as Kenkichi
A Wife's Heart
as Kenkichi
Settlement of Love
as Shuntarō Ōhira
Settlement of Love
as Shuntarō Ōhira
Rainy Night Duel
as Masahiko Koseki
Rainy Night Duel
as Masahiko Koseki
All is Well 2
as Daikichi Risshun
All is Well 2
as Daikichi Risshun
Seven Samurai
as Kikuchiyo
Seven Samurai
as Kikuchiyo
Sunflower Girl
as Ippei Hitachi
Sunflower Girl
as Ippei Hitachi
The Life of Oharu
as Katsunosuke
The Life of Oharu
as Katsunosuke
Foghorn
as Chiyokichi
Foghorn
as Chiyokichi
Vendetta of a Samurai
as Mataemon Araki
Vendetta of a Samurai
as Mataemon Araki
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
as Mizuno
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
as Mizuno
Beyond Love and Hate
as Gorō Sakata
Beyond Love and Hate
as Gorō Sakata
Wedding Ring
as Takeshi Ema
Wedding Ring
as Takeshi Ema
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
as Teisaku Nagasawa
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
as Teisaku Nagasawa
Drunken Angel
as Matsunaga
Drunken Angel
as Matsunaga