Akira Takarada

Infobox Actor
name = Akira Takarada


imagesize = 256px
caption = Akira Takarada - detail from movie poster of Japanese movie "Godzilla" (1954)
birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1934|4|29|mf=y
birthplace = Harbin, China
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = Actor, tarento
yearsactive = 1954-present
spouse =
domesticpartner =
website =
academyawards =
afiawards =
arielaward =
baftaawards =
bfjaawards =
cesarawards =
emmyawards =
filmfareawards =
geminiawards =
goldencalfawards =
goldenglobeawards =
goldenraspberryawards =
goyaawards =
grammyawards =
iftaawards =
laurenceolivierawards =
naacpimageawards =
nationalfilmawards =
sagawards =
tonyawards =
awards = nihongo|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 "" (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. [cite book|author= Rome, Florence|year=1971|title=The Scarlett Letters|publisher=Random House|location=New York|id=ISBN 0-394-46171-1, p.154.]

Today he is still well-known in Japan through his appearances in TV dramas, quiz shows and commercials.

Roles

Film

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)

tage productions

*"My Fair Lady"
*"South Pacific"

Other

*Tokyo Disneyland attraction: Country Bear Jamboree (Henry)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0847361|name=Akira Takarada