Toshirō Mifune

Toshirō Mifune (April 2, 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

Seven Samurai
Rashomon
Yojimbo
High and Low
Throne of Blood
1941
Homepage http://www.mifuneproductions.co.jp/index.php
Birth Location Qingdao, China
Born 1920-04-02
Died 1997-12-24

Movies

Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity as Self (archive footage)
2020
Mifune: The Last Samurai as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
2016
Kurosawa as Self (archive footage)
2000
1998
The Making of '1941' as (archive)
1996
Picture Bride as The Benshi
1995
Deep River as Tsukada
1995
Shadow of the Wolf as Kroomak
1992
Strawberry Road as Taoka
1991
Journey of Honor as Lord Ieyasu
1991
1989
Death of a Tea Master as Rikyu Sen-no
1989
Princess from the Moon as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
1987
Tora-san Goes North as Junkichi Ueno
1987
The Shatterer as Murai
1987
1984
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
Domineering as Masao Tadokoro
1982
1982
The Challenge as Toru Yoshida
1982
Lowly Ronin as Sanjuro Hinoki
1981
The Bushido Blade as Shogun's Commander
1981
Shogun as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
1981
Inchon as Saito-San
1981
Port Arthur as Emperor Meiji
1980
1941 as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
1979
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
1979
Winter Kills as Keith
1979
Lord Mito as Sakuzaemon Okumura
1978
The Fall of Ako Castle as Tsuchiya Michinao
1978
1978
Love and Faith as Taiko Hideyoshi
1978
Shogun's Samurai as Lord of Owari
1978
1977
Proof of the Man as Yohei Kori
1977
Midway as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1976
Paper Tiger as Ambassador Kagoyama
1975
Red Sun as Kuroda Jubei
1971
The Militarists as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
1970
The Walking Major as Kinugasa Tadao
1970
1970
The Ambitious as Shojiro Goto
1970
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo as Yojimbo/Sasa
1970
1969
Red Lion as Gonzo
1969
Battle of the Japan Sea as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
1969
Samurai Banners as Kansuke Yamamoto
1969
Hell in the Pacific as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
1968
Admiral Yamamoto as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1968
The Sands of Kurobe as Kitagawa
1968
Japan's Longest Day as War Minister General Korechika Anami
1967
Samurai Rebellion as Isaburo Sasahara
1967
Grand Prix as Izo Yamura
1966
Rise Against the Sword as Abare Gōemon
1966
The Mad Atlantic as Heihachirô Murakami
1966
The Sword of Doom as Toranosuke Shimada
1966
Fort Graveyard as Sergeant Kosugi
1965
1965
Sanshiro Sugata as Shogoro Yano
1965
Red Beard as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
1965
Samurai Assassin as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
1965
Whirlwind as Lord Akashi
1964
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
1963
47 Ronin as Genba Tawaraboshi
1962
1962
1962
Sanjuro as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
1962
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
1961
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
1960
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
1959
The Hidden Fortress as General Rokurota Makabe
1958
All About Marriage as Acting teacher
1958
Yaji and Kita on the Road as Toshinoshin Taya
1958
The Rickshaw Man as Matsugoro
1958
1957
The Lower Depths as Sutekichi the Thief
1957
Yagyu Secret Scrolls as Tasaburo
1957
Good Luck to These Two as Toshio Maruyama
1957
A Man in the Storm as Saburô Watari
1957
Throne of Blood as Taketori Washizu
1957
Rebels on the High Sea as Matsuo Tokuzô
1956
1956
A Wife's Heart as Kenkichi
1956
Settlement of Love as Shuntaro Ohira
1956
Rainy Night Duel as Masahiko Koseki
1956
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1956
I Live in Fear as Kiichi Nakajima
1955
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1955
All is Well 2 as Taichi Daikichi
1955
All is Well as Taichi Daikichi
1955
A Man Among Men as Maki
1955
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
1954
Eagle of the Pacific as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
1953
Sunflower Girl as Ippei Hitachi
1953
1953
The Man Who Came to Port as Goro Niinuma
1952
Tokyo Sweetheart as Kurokawa
1952
Sword for Hire as Sasa Hayatenosuke
1952
The Life of Oharu as Katsunosuke
1952
Foghorn as Chiyokichi
1952
Vendetta of a Samurai as Mataemon Araki
1952
1951
The Life of a Horse Trader as Yonetaro Katayama
1951
1951
Pirates as Tora
1951
The Idiot as Denkichi Akama
1951
Elegy as Daisuke Toki
1951
Sasaki Kojiro as Miyamoto Musashi
1950
Rashomon as Tajômaru
1950
Wedding Ring as Takeshi Ema
1950
Scandal as Ichirô Aoye
1950
1950
Escape from Prison as Shinkichi
1950
Stray Dog as Det. Murakami
1949
1949
The Quiet Duel as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
1949
Drunken Angel as Matsunaga
1948
These Foolish Times as Genzaburo Ohno, Gang Boss
1947
Snow Trail as Eijima
1947

Movies

1979
Dog Whistle Executive Producer
1978
Morning for Two Producer
1971
1970
Red Lion Producer
1969
Samurai Banners Producer
1969
1967
The Mad Atlantic Executive Producer
1966
Adventure in Kigan Castle Associate Producer
1966
Fort Graveyard Associate Producer
1965
Legacy of the 500,000 Associate Producer
1963
1963