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James Shigeta

James Shigeta

AKA: James Saburo Shigeta · 繁田三郎

Acting

Born: 1929 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA 29 Global Credits 🔥 0.9 Popularity
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Biography

James Saburo Shigeta (June 17, 1929 – July 28, 2014) was an American actor, singer, and musician of Japanese descent. He was noted for his roles in The Crimson Kimono (1959), Walk Like a Dragon (1960), Flower Drum Song (1961), Bridge to the Sun (1961), Die Hard (1988), and Mulan (1998). In 1960, he won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, along with three other actors.

In his early career, Shigeta often played romantic male lead roles, which were almost nonexistent for an actor of Asian descent during his time, making him a trailblazer in Asian American representation in media. The Goldsea Asian-American Daily magazine listed him as one of the "Most Inspiring Asian-Americans Of All Time".

Before his Hollywood career he found success as a pop singer and performer abroad, especially in Japan and Australia.

Known For

Full Credits

Show / Title Year Credit / Role
Avatar: The Last Airbender 2005 Old Wanderer (voice)
Threat Matrix 2003 Kang Sok-Joo
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest 1996 Inspector Mantjur (voice)
Cybill 1995 Mr. Matsuzaki
seaQuest DSV 1993 Vietnamese President Chi
Renegade 1992 Mr. Ota
Beverly Hills, 90210 1990 Ben Sosna
Jake and the Fatman 1987 Mr. Koso Nakasone
Murder, She Wrote 1984 John Sukahara
Airwolf 1984 Colonel Tranh Van Zung
The Hitchhiker 1983 Nishi
Matt Houston 1982 Lin Ha
T. J. Hooker 1982 Chow Duc Khan
The Love Boat 1977 Bud's Father
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries 1977 Contributor
Ellery Queen 1975 Stephen Yang
Police Woman 1974 Contributor
The Rockford Files 1974 Clement Chin
The Streets of San Francisco 1972 Prosecutor
Medical Center 1969 Dr. Osaka
Hawaii Five-O 1968 Joseph Matsukino
Burke's Law 1963 Sidney Ying
The Outer Limits 1963 Maj. Jong
The Lieutenant 1963 Contributor
Ben Casey 1961 Contributor
Dr. Kildare 1961 Dr. Roy Shigera
Naked City 1958 James Kam
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show 1956 Self
Golden Globe Awards 1944 Self - Nominee