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.
Known For
Credits
- 2020 · Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity as Self (archive footage)
- 2016 · Mifune: The Last Samurai as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
- 2002 · Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress' as Self
- 2000 · Kurosawa as Self (archive footage)
- 1998 · Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman as Self (archive footage)
- 1996 · The Making of '1941' as (archive)
- 1995 · Picture Bride as The Benshi
- 1995 · Deep River as Tsukada
- 1992 · Shadow of the Wolf as Kroomak
- 1991 · Journey of Honor as Ieyasu Tokugawa
- 1991 · Strawberry Road as Taoka
- 1990 · Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode as Nagao Tamekage
- 1989 · Death of a Tea Master as Rikyu Sen-no
- 1989 · cf Girl as Shūichirō Hase
- 1989 · The Demon Comes in Spring as Kukkune no jî
- 1987 · Princess from the Moon as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
- 1987 · The Retired Samurai as Hikozaemon Ōkubo
- 1987 · Tora-san Goes North as Junkichi Ueno
- 1987 · The Shatterer as Murai
- 1986 · The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai as Kyūbei Matsufuji
- 1985 · No More God, No More Love as Kōzō Kanzaki
- 1984 · The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel as Fisherman
- 1984 · Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire as Shūsai Kondō
- 1984 · Burning Mountain River as Otsuichi Amo
- 1983 · Secret of the Forbidden Valley as
- 1983 · The Women of Osaka Castle as Tokugawa Ieyasu
- 1983 · Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass as Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
- 1983 · Battle Anthem as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
- 1983 · Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
- 1983 · Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell as Sanjuro Hinoki
- 1983 · Theater Of Life as Hyōtarō Aonari
- 1982 · Domineering as Masao Tadokoro
- 1982 · Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood as Sanjuro Hinoki
- 1982 · The Challenge as Toru Yoshida
- 1982 · The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn as
- 1982 · Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2 as Tamon Umei
- 1981 · Lowly Ronin as Sanjuro Hinoki
- 1981 · Tuesday Suspense Theater as
- 1981 · The Bushido Blade as Shogun's Commander
- 1981 · Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1 as Tamon Umei
- 1981 · Inchon as Saito-San
- 1981 · Sekigahara as Sakon Shima
- 1980 · Shōgun as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
- 1980 · Port Arthur as Emperor Meiji
- 1979 · 1941 as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
- 1979 · Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police as Sadanobu Matsudaira
- 1979 · The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
- 1979 · Winter Kills as Keith
- 1979 · The 47 Ronins of Ako as Tachibana Sakon
- 1978 · Lord Mito as Sakuzaemon Okumura
- 1978 · The Fall of Ako Castle as Tsuchiya Michinao
- 1978 · Japanese Godfather: Conclusion as Kosuke Oishi
- 1978 · Love and Faith as Taiko Hideyoshi
- 1978 · Shag as Captain Takeo Murata
- 1978 · Shogun's Samurai as Yoshinao Tokugawa
- 1978 · Falcons of Edo as Kanbei Uchiyama
- 1977 · Japanese Godfather: Ambition as Kosuke Oishi
- 1977 · Proof of the Man as Yohei Kori
- 1976 · Midway as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
- 1976 · Ronin in a Lawless Town as Mr. Danna
- 1975 · Paper Tiger as Ambassador Kagoyama
- 1972 · Ronin of the Wastelands as Kujuro Toge
- 1971 · Red Sun as Kuroda Jubei
- 1971 · V.I.P. Schaukel as Self
- 1971 · Epic Chushingura as Oishi Kuranosuke
- 1970 · The Militarists as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
- 1970 · The Walking Major as Kinugasa Tadao
- 1970 · Incident at Blood Pass as Yojimbo
- 1970 · The Ambitious as Shojiro Goto
- 1970 · Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo as Yojimbo/Sasa
- 1969 · Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor as Isami Kondo
- 1969 · Red Lion as Gonzo
- 1969 · Battle of the Japan Sea as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
- 1969 · Safari 5000 as Yūichirō Takase
- 1969 · Samurai Banners as Kansuke Yamamoto
- 1968 · Hell in the Pacific as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
- 1968 · The Day the Sun Rose as Kumaza
- 1968 · Admiral Yamamoto as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
- 1968 · The Sands of Kurobe as Kitagawa
- 1967 · Japan's Longest Day as War Minister General Korechika Anami
- 1967 · Samurai Rebellion as Isaburo Sasahara
- 1966 · Grand Prix as Izō Yamura
- 1966 · Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions as Self
- 1966 · Rise Against the Sword as Abare Gōemon
- 1966 · The Mad Atlantic as Heihachirô Murakami
- 1966 · Adventure in Kigan Castle as Osami
- 1966 · The Sword of Doom as Toranosuke Shimada
- 1965 · Fort Graveyard as Sergeant Kosugi
- 1965 · The Retreat from Kiska as Omura
- 1965 · Sanshiro Sugata as Shogoro Yano
- 1965 · Red Beard as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
- 1965 · Samurai Assassin as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
- 1964 · Whirlwind as Lord Akashi
- 1963 · Samurai Pirate as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
- 1963 · Legacy of the 500,000 as Takeichi Matsuo
- 1963 · High and Low as Kingo Gondo
- 1963 · Attack Squadron as Lt. Colonel Senda
- 1962 · 47 Ronin as Genba Tawaraboshi
- 1962 · Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong as Zhang Zhizhang
- 1962 · Doburoku no Tatsu as Tatsu
- 1962 · Sanjuro as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
- 1961 · The Important Man as Ánimas Trujano
- 1961 · The Youth and His Amulet as Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
- 1961 · Yojimbo as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
- 1961 · The Masterless 47 – Part II as
- 1961 · Daredevil in the Castle as Mohei
- 1960 · The Masterless 47 as Kazuo Momoi
- 1960 · The Bad Sleep Well as Kôichi Nishi
- 1960 · Man Against Man as Kaji
- 1960 · The Storm of the Pacific as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
- 1960 · The Gambling Samurai as Kunisada Chuji
- 1960 · The Last Gunfight as Detective Saburo Fujioka
- 1959 · The Three Treasures as Prince Yamato Takeru
- 1959 · Desperado Outpost as Battalion Commander
- 1959 · Saga of the Vagabonds as Rokuro Kai
- 1959 · Samurai Saga as Heihachiro Komaki
- 1959 · The Big Boss as Kashimura
- 1958 · The Hidden Fortress as General Rokurota Makabe
- 1958 · Theater of Life as
- 1958 · All About Marriage as Acting teacher
- 1958 · Yaji and Kita on the Road as Toshinoshin Taya
- 1958 · The Rickshaw Man as Matsugorō Tomishima
- 1958 · A Holiday in Tokyo as Tenkai's nephew Jirō
- 1958 · Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II as Tasaburo
- 1957 · Down Town as Yoshio Tsuruishi
- 1957 · The Lower Depths as Sutekichi the Thief
- 1957 · A Dangerous Hero as Kawada
- 1957 · Yagyu Secret Scrolls as Tasaburō Kasumi
- 1957 · Good Luck to These Two as Toshio Maruyama
- 1957 · A Man in the Storm as Saburō Watari
- 1957 · Throne of Blood as Taketori Washizu
- 1956 · Rebels on the High Sea as Matsuo Tokuzō
- 1956 · Scoundrel as Kanji
- 1956 · A Wife's Heart as Kenkichi
- 1956 · Settlement of Love as Shuntarō Ōhira
- 1956 · The Underworld as Chief Inspector Kumada
- 1956 · Rainy Night Duel as Masahiko Koseki
- 1956 · Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
- 1955 · I Live in Fear as Kiichi Nakajima
- 1955 · Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
- 1955 · No Time for Tears as Mitsuo Yano
- 1955 · All is Well 2 as Daikichi Risshun
- 1955 · All is Well as Daikichi Risshun
- 1955 · A Man Among Men as "Buick" Maki
- 1954 · The Black Fury as Eiichi Tsuda
- 1954 · The Surf as Skipper of the Utashima-maru
- 1954 · Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
- 1954 · Seven Samurai as Kikuchiyo
- 1953 · Eagle of the Pacific as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
- 1953 · Sunflower Girl as Ippei Hitachi
- 1953 · The Last Embrace as Shinkichi / Hayakawa
- 1953 · My Wonderful Yellow Car as Matsumura
- 1952 · The Man Who Came to Port as Gorō Niinuma
- 1952 · Swift Current as Shunsuke Kosugi
- 1952 · Tokyo Sweetheart as Kurokawa
- 1952 · Sword for Hire as Sasa Hayatenosuke
- 1952 · Kin no tamago: Golden Girl as
- 1952 · The Life of Oharu as Katsunosuke
- 1952 · Foghorn as Chiyokichi
- 1952 · Vendetta of a Samurai as Mataemon Araki
- 1951 · Who Knows a Woman's Heart as Mizuno
- 1951 · The Life of a Horse Trader as Yonetaro Katayama
- 1951 · Sasaki Kojiro as Miyamoto Musashi
- 1951 · Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre as Kenji Kawakami
- 1951 · Pirates as Tora
- 1951 · The Idiot as Denkichi Akama
- 1951 · Elegy as Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
- 1951 · Beyond Love and Hate as Gorō Sakata
- 1950 · Rashomon as Tajômaru
- 1950 · Wedding Ring as Takeshi Ema
- 1950 · Scandal as Ichirô Aoye
- 1950 · Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka as Teisaku Nagasawa
- 1950 · Escape from Prison as Shinkichi
- 1949 · Stray Dog as Det. Murakami
- 1949 · Jakoman and Tetsu as Tetsu
- 1949 · The Quiet Duel as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
- 1948 · Drunken Angel as Matsunaga
- 1947 · These Foolish Times as Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
- 1947 · Snow Trail as Eijima