Toshirō Mifune
Known for: Acting
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
Film
Seven Samurai
Kikuchiyo
1954
Series
Shōgun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
1980
Film
High and Low
Kingo Gondo
1963
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Film
Rashomon
Tajômaru
1950
Film
Red Sun
Kuroda Jubei
1971
Film
Midway
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1976
Film
Yojimbo
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
1961
Film
1941
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
1979
Film
The Hidden Fortress
General Rokurota Makabe
1958
Film
Throne of Blood
Taketoki Washizu
1957
Film
Red Beard
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
1965
Film
Sanjuro
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
1962
Film
Grand Prix
Izō Yamura
1966
Series
Epic Chushingura
Oishi Kuranosuke
1971
Film
The Sword of Doom
Toranosuke Shimada
1966
Film
Stray Dog
Det. Murakami
1949
The 47 Ronins of Ako
Tachibana Sakon
1979
Film
The Bushido Blade
Shogun's Commander
1981
Film
Samurai Rebellion
Isaburo Sasahara
1967
Film
The Man Who Came to Port
Gorō Niinuma
1952
Film
The Bad Sleep Well
Kôichi Nishi
1960
Film
Hell in the Pacific
Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
1968
Film
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1954
Film
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
2012
Film
The Challenge
Toru Yoshida
1982
Film
Shadow of the Wolf
Kroomak
1992
Film
The Last Embrace
Shinkichi / Hayakawa
1953
Film
The Life of Oharu
Katsunosuke
1952
Film
The Idiot
Denkichi Akama
1951
Film
Drunken Angel
Matsunaga
1948
Film
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Mizuno
1951
Series
Burning Mountain River
Otsuichi Amo
1984
Film
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Sanjuro Hinoki
1982
Film
The Quiet Duel
Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
1949
Film
Chûshingura
Genba Tawaraboshi
1962
Film
The Important Man
Ánimas Trujano
1961
Film
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
1983
Film
Port Arthur
Emperor Meiji
1980
Series
Falcons of Edo
Kanbei Uchiyama
1978
Film
Proof of the Man
Yohei Kori
1977
Series
Sekigahara
Sakon Shima
1981
Series
Ronin in a Lawless Town
Mr. Danna
1976
Series
Tuesday Suspense Theater
1981
Film
The Demon Comes in Spring
Kukkune no jî
1989
Film
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1956
Series
Ronin of the Wastelands
Kujuro Toge
1972
Film
Japan's Longest Day
War Minister General Korechika Anami
1967
Film
Battle of the Japan Sea
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
1969
Film
The Fall of Ako Castle
Tsuchiya Michinao
1978
Film
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1968
Film
Shogun's Samurai
Yoshinao Tokugawa
1978
Film
Inchon
Saito-San
1981
Film
Foghorn
Chiyokichi
1952
Film
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1955
Film
The Lower Depths
Sutekichi the Thief
1957
Film
Scoundrel
Kanji
1956
Film
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Yojimbo/Sasa
1970
Film
The Three Treasures
Prince Yamato Takeru
1959
Film
Winter Kills
Keith
1979
Film
Mifune: The Last Samurai
Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
2016
Film
Scandal
Ichirô Aoye
1950
Film
The Rickshaw Man
Matsugorō Tomishima
1958
Film
I Live in Fear
Kiichi Nakajima
1955
Film
The Storm of the Pacific
Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
1960
Film
Battle Anthem
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
1983
Film
The Retreat from Kiska
Omura
1965
Film
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Kosuke Oishi
1977
Film
Red Lion
Gonzo
1969
Film
Samurai Banners
Kansuke Yamamoto
1969
Film
Tokyo Sweetheart
Kurokawa
1952
Film
The Militarists
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
1970
Film
Theater Of Life
Hyōtarō Aonari
1983
Film
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Kosuke Oishi
1978
Film
Attack Squadron
Lt. Colonel Senda
1963
Film
The Last Gunfight
Detective Saburo Fujioka
1960
Film
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
1979
Film
Saga of the Vagabonds
Rokuro Kai
1959
Film
Princess from the Moon
Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
1987
Film
Samurai Pirate
Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
1963
Film
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Isami Kondo
1969
Film
Paper Tiger
Ambassador Kagoyama
1975
Film
Daredevil in the Castle
Mohei
1961
Film
Samurai Assassin
Tsuruchiyo Niiro
1965
Film
The Gambling Samurai
Kunisada Chuji
1960
Film
Shogun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
1980
Film
The Black Fury
Eiichi Tsuda
1954
Film
Safari 5000
Yūichirō Takase
1969
Film
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Tasaburo
1958
Film
Journey of Honor
Ieyasu Tokugawa
1991
Film
Sanshiro Sugata
Shogoro Yano
1965
Film
Picture Bride
The Benshi
1995
Film
The Eagle of the Pacific
1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
1953
Film
Lowly Ronin
Sanjuro Hinoki
1981
Film
Tora-san Goes North
Junkichi Ueno
1987
Film
Desperado Outpost
Battalion Commander
1959
Film
Legacy of the 500,000
Takeichi Matsuo
1963
Film
The Ambitious
Shojiro Goto
1970
Film
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
1952
The Day the Sun Rose
Kumaza
1968
Film
Deep River
Tsukada
1995
Film
The Sands of Kurobe
Kitagawa
1968
Film
A Wife's Heart
Kenkichi
1956
Series
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Film
Domineering
Masao Tadokoro
1982
Film
Snow Trail
Eijima
1947
Film
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Toshinoshin Taya
1958
Film
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Osami
1966
Film
Sasaki Kojiro
Miyamoto Musashi
1951
Film
Strawberry Road
Taoka
1991
Film
The Life of a Horse Trader
Yonetaro Katayama
1951
Film
cf Girl
Shūichirō Hase
1989
Film
Downtown
Yoshio Tsuruishi
1957
Film
Death of a Tea Master
Rikyu Sen-no
1989
Film
Sword for Hire
Sasa Hayatenosuke
1952
Film
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Tasaburō Kasumi
1957
Film
The Walking Major
Kinugasa Tadao
1970
Film
The Big Boss
Kashimura
1959
Film
Rise Against the Sword
Abare Gōemon
1966
Film
Samurai Saga
Heihachiro Komaki
1959
Film
The Masterless 47
Kazuo Momoi
1960
Film
Fort Graveyard
Sergeant Kosugi
1965
Film
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Sanjuro Hinoki
1983
Film
The Masterless 47 – Part II
1961
Film
The Youth and His Amulet
Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
1961
Film
The Surf
Skipper of the Utashima-maru
1954
Film
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Shūsai Kondō
1984
Film
Love and Faith
Taiko Hideyoshi
1978
Film
A Dangerous Hero
Kawada
1957
Film
The Underworld
Chief Inspector Kumada
1956
Film
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
1983
Film
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Matsumura
1953
Film
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
Kyūbei Matsufuji
1986
Film
Holiday in Tokyo
Tenkai's nephew Jirō
1958
Film
Settlement of Love
Shuntarō Ōhira
1956
Film
Good Luck to These Two
Toshio Maruyama
1957
Film
No More God, No More Love
Kōzō Kanzaki
1985
Film
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Nagao Tamekage
1990
Film
Lord Mito
Sakuzaemon Okumura
1978
Film
Whirlwind
Lord Akashi
1964
Film
Tatsu
Tatsu
1962
Film
Rebels on the High Sea
Matsuo Tokuzō
1956
Film
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
Fisherman
1984
Film
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Teisaku Nagasawa
1950
Film
Vendetta of a Samurai
Mataemon Araki
1952
Film
Shag
Captain Takeo Murata
1978
Film
The Mad Atlantic
Heihachirô Murakami
1966
Film
Man Against Man
Kaji
1960
Film
Theater of Life
1958
Film
The Women of Osaka Castle
Tokugawa Ieyasu
1983
Film
No Time for Tears
Mitsuo Yano
1955
Film
Wedding Ring
Takeshi Ema
1950
Film
Beyond Love and Hate
Gorō Sakata
1951
Film
All is Well 2
Daikichi Risshun
1955
Film
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Sadanobu Matsudaira
1979
Film
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Tamon Umei
1981
Film
Rainy Night Duel
Masahiko Koseki
1956
Film
Elegy
Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
1951
Film
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
Self
1966
Film
Incident at Blood Pass
Yojimbo
1970
Film
A Man in the Storm
Saburō Watari
1957
Film
All About Marriage
Acting teacher
1958
Film
Swift Current
Shunsuke Kosugi
1952
Film
Sunflower Girl
Ippei Hitachi
1953
Film
These Foolish Times
Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
1947
Film
A Man Among Men
"Buick" Maki
1955
Film
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Kenji Kawakami
1951
Film
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
Self
2002
Film
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
1983
Film
The Shatterer
Murai
1987
Film
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Zhang Zhizhang
1962
Film
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Tamon Umei
1982
Film
All is Well
Daikichi Risshun
1955
Film
Escape from Prison
Shinkichi
1950
Film
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
1982
Film
Pirates
Tora
1951
Film
The Retired Samurai
Hikozaemon Ōkubo
1987
Film
Jakoman and Tetsu
Tetsu
1949