James Shigeta
Acting
🎂 1929-06-17
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.
Cast credits(94)
Ward Toyama
1957
John Sukahara
1984
Luc Li
1984
1990
Bud's Father
1977
Richard Enoka
1980
Mr. Obotu
1980
Joseph Matsukino
1968
Clement Chin
1974
1972
Sam Wing
1974
1967
Self - Audience Member
1944
Self - Nominee
1944
Colonel Tranh Van Zung
1984
1992
Mr. Ota
1992
Shiki
1966
1981
James Kam
1958
Taro Isogi
1994
Old Wanderer (voice)
2005
Dr. Roy Shigera
1961
1974
Sidney Ying
1963
Maj. Jong
1963
AIO Captain Newa
1963
General Li (voice)
1998
Chow Duc Khan
1982
1961
Dr. Harvey Lee
1961
Dr. Osaka
1969
Self
1956
Vietnamese President Chi
1993
1982
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
1988
Mr. Koso Nakasone
1987
Nishi
1983
1972
Prosecutor
1972
1977
Stephen Yang
1975
Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
1976
Inspector Mantjur (voice)
1996
Dr. Yamashiro (voice)
1996
Sugimoto
2000
1975
Kang Sok-Joo
2003
1963
Lin Tso-Han
1976
Mr. Lau
1997
Makko
1983
Takeo Chisato
1979
1964
Charles Yang
2009
Cheng Lu
1960
Chief Resident
1969
Brother To-Lenn
1973
Field Marshal Abehata
1980
Goro
1974
Harue
1961
Detective Joe Kojaku
1959
Jimmy Lee
1982
Danny Kohana
1966
Self
2007
Mao Mak
1995
Tin Lum Yin
1989
Ambassador Nakamura
1996
Wang Ta
1961
(archive footage)
2019
1961
Self
2025
Hidenari Terasaki
1961
Admiral Heilachiro Nogura
2022
Japanese Doctor
1964
Tom McCauley
1975
David Lao
1976
Captain Murakami
1968
Lee Ahn
1969
Lester Koto
1967
Master Kwan Li
1972
Col. Lin Pei
1972
George Ti Ming
1967
Dr. Sung
1990
Dr. Chen
1974
Det. Whoo
1994
1988
Lt. Takahashi
1968
Diver Toshi O'Hara
1968
Tin Lum Yin
1994
Donald Shibura
1982
Himself
2006
Narrator
1990
Narrator
1999