Toshirō Mifune
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 1, 1920
- Died
- December 24, 1997 (aged 77)
- Birthplace
- Qingdao, China
Biography
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
Photos
Filmography
Mifune: The Last Samurai
Movie · as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Movie · as (archive footage)
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
Movie · as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
Movie · as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
Movie · as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
Movie · as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Seven Samurai'
Movie · as Self
Deep River
Movie · as Tsukada
Picture Bride
Movie · as The Benshi
Shadow of the Wolf
Movie · as Kroomak
Journey of Honor
Movie · as Ieyasu Tokugawa
Strawberry Road
Movie · as Taoka
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Movie · as Nagao Tamekage
Death of a Tea Master
Movie · as Rikyu Sen-no
cf Girl
Movie · as Shūichirō Hase
The Demon Comes in Spring
Movie · as Kukkune no jî
Princess from the Moon
Movie · as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
The Retired Samurai
Movie · as Hikozaemon Ōkubo
Tora-san Goes North
Movie · as Junkichi Ueno
The Shatterer
Movie · as Murai
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
Movie · as Kyūbei Matsufuji
No More God, No More Love
Movie · as Kōzō Kanzaki
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Movie · as Shūsai Kondō
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
Movie · as Fisherman
Burning Mountain River
TV · as Otsuichi Amo · 51 eps
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
Movie
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Movie · as Sanjuro Hinoki
Battle Anthem
Movie · as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
The Women of Osaka Castle
Movie · as Tokugawa Ieyasu
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Movie · as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Theater Of Life
Movie · as Hyōtarō Aonari
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Movie · as Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
The Brave Man Says Little
TV · 4 eps
The Challenge
Movie · as Toru Yoshida
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Movie · as Sanjuro Hinoki
Domineering
Movie · as Masao Tadokoro
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
Movie
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Movie · as Tamon Umei
The Bushido Blade
Movie · as Shogun's Commander
Inchon
Movie · as Saito-San
Lowly Ronin
Movie · as Sanjuro Hinoki
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Movie · as Tamon Umei
Sekigahara
TV · as Sakon Shima · 3 eps
Tuesday Suspense Theater
TV · 1 ep
Port Arthur
Movie · as Emperor Meiji
Shogun
Movie · as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Shōgun
TV · as Lord Yoshi Toranaga · 5 eps
1941
Movie · as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Winter Kills
Movie · as Keith
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
Movie · as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Movie · as Sadanobu Matsudaira
The 47 Ronins of Ako
TV · as Tachibana Sakon · 36 eps
The Fall of Ako Castle
Movie · as Tsuchiya Michinao
Love and Faith
Movie · as Taiko Hideyoshi
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
Movie · as Yoshinao Tokugawa
Shag
Movie · as Captain Takeo Murata
Lord Mito
Movie · as Sakuzaemon Okumura
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Movie · as Kosuke Oishi
Falcons of Edo
TV · as Kanbei Uchiyama · 38 eps
Proof of the Man
Movie · as Yohei Kori
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Movie · as Kosuke Oishi
Midway
Movie · as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Ronin in a Lawless Town
TV · as Mr. Danna · 11 eps
Paper Tiger
Movie · as Ambassador Kagoyama
Ronin of the Wastelands
TV · as Kujuro Toge · 13 eps
Red Sun
Movie · as Kuroda Jubei
V.I.P. Schaukel
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Epic Chushingura
TV · as Oishi Kuranosuke · 52 eps
Incident at Blood Pass
Movie · as Yojimbo
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Movie · as Yojimbo/Sasa
The Ambitious
Movie · as Shojiro Goto
The Militarists
Movie · as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Walking Major
Movie · as Kinugasa Tadao
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Movie · as Isami Kondo
Samurai Banners
Movie · as Kansuke Yamamoto
Red Lion
Movie · as Gonzo
Battle of the Japan Sea
Movie · as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Safari 5000
Movie · as Yūichirō Takase
Hell in the Pacific
Movie · as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
The Sands of Kurobe
Movie · as Kitagawa
Admiral Yamamoto
Movie · as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
The Day the Sun Rose
Movie · as Kumaza
Samurai Rebellion
Movie · as Isaburo Sasahara
Japan's Longest Day
Movie · as War Minister General Korechika Anami
Grand Prix
Movie · as Izō Yamura
The Sword of Doom
Movie · as Toranosuke Shimada
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Movie · as Osami
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
Movie · as Self
The Mad Atlantic
Movie · as Heihachirô Murakami
Rise Against the Sword
Movie · as Abare Gōemon
Red Beard
Movie · as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Samurai Assassin
Movie · as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Fort Graveyard
Movie · as Sergeant Kosugi
The Retreat from Kiska
Movie · as Omura
Sanshiro Sugata
Movie · as Shogoro Yano
Whirlwind
Movie · as Lord Akashi
High and Low
Movie · as Kingo Gondo
Samurai Pirate
Movie · as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Attack Squadron
Movie · as Lt. Colonel Senda
Legacy of the 500,000
Movie · as Takeichi Matsuo
Sanjuro
Movie · as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
Chûshingura
Movie · as Genba Tawaraboshi
Tatsu
Movie · as Tatsu
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Movie · as Zhang Zhizhang
Yojimbo
Movie · as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
The Important Man
Movie · as Ánimas Trujano
Daredevil in the Castle
Movie · as Mohei
The Youth and His Amulet
Movie · as Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
The Masterless 47 – Part II
Movie
The Bad Sleep Well
Movie · as Kôichi Nishi
The Last Gunfight
Movie · as Detective Saburo Fujioka
The Masterless 47
Movie · as Kazuo Momoi
The Storm of the Pacific
Movie · as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
The Gambling Samurai
Movie · as Kunisada Chuji
Man Against Man
Movie · as Kaji
Desperado Outpost
Movie · as Battalion Commander
Samurai Saga
Movie · as Heihachiro Komaki
The Three Treasures
Movie · as Prince Yamato Takeru
The Big Boss
Movie · as Kashimura
Saga of the Vagabonds
Movie · as Rokuro Kai
The Hidden Fortress
Movie · as General Rokurota Makabe
The Rickshaw Man
Movie · as Matsugorō Tomishima
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Movie · as Toshinoshin Taya
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Movie · as Tasaburo
All About Marriage
Movie · as Acting teacher
Holiday in Tokyo
Movie · as Tenkai's nephew Jirō
Theater of Life
Movie
Throne of Blood
Movie · as Taketoki Washizu
The Lower Depths
Movie · as Sutekichi the Thief
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Movie · as Tasaburō Kasumi
A Dangerous Hero
Movie · as Kawada
A Man in the Storm
Movie · as Saburō Watari
Downtown
Movie · as Yoshio Tsuruishi
Good Luck to These Two
Movie · as Toshio Maruyama
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Movie · as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Rebels on the High Sea
Movie · as Matsuo Tokuzō
Settlement of Love
Movie · as Shuntarō Ōhira
A Wife's Heart
Movie · as Kenkichi
The Underworld
Movie · as Chief Inspector Kumada
Scoundrel
Movie · as Kanji
Rainy Night Duel
Movie · as Masahiko Koseki
I Live in Fear
Movie · as Kiichi Nakajima
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Movie · as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
All is Well 2
Movie · as Daikichi Risshun
All is Well
Movie · as Daikichi Risshun
No Time for Tears
Movie · as Mitsuo Yano
A Man Among Men
Movie · as "Buick" Maki
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Movie · as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Seven Samurai
Movie · as Kikuchiyo
The Black Fury
Movie · as Eiichi Tsuda
The Surf
Movie · as Skipper of the Utashima-maru
The Eagle of the Pacific
Movie · as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
The Last Embrace
Movie · as Shinkichi / Hayakawa
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Movie · as Matsumura
Sunflower Girl
Movie · as Ippei Hitachi
The Life of Oharu
Movie · as Katsunosuke
Vendetta of a Samurai
Movie · as Mataemon Araki
Foghorn
Movie · as Chiyokichi
Sword for Hire
Movie · as Sasa Hayatenosuke
Tokyo Sweetheart
Movie · as Kurokawa
The Man Who Came to Port
Movie · as Gorō Niinuma
Swift Current
Movie · as Shunsuke Kosugi
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Movie
The Idiot
Movie · as Denkichi Akama
Sasaki Kojiro
Movie · as Miyamoto Musashi
The Life of a Horse Trader
Movie · as Yonetaro Katayama
Beyond Love and Hate
Movie · as Gorō Sakata
Pirates
Movie · as Tora
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Movie · as Kenji Kawakami
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Movie · as Mizuno
Elegy
Movie · as Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
Rashomon
Movie · as Tajômaru
Scandal
Movie · as Ichirô Aoye
Wedding Ring
Movie · as Takeshi Ema
Escape from Prison
Movie · as Shinkichi
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Movie · as Teisaku Nagasawa
Stray Dog
Movie · as Det. Murakami
The Quiet Duel
Movie · as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
Jakoman and Tetsu
Movie · as Tetsu
Drunken Angel
Movie · as Matsunaga
Snow Trail
Movie · as Eijima
These Foolish Times
Movie · as Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss