James Shigeta

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

June 17, 1929

Died

July 28, 2014 (age 85)

Place of Birth

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

Also Known As

James Saburo Shigeta

繁田三郎

James Shigeta

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

Filmography

2025FilmBeam Me Up, Suluas Self2022FilmYorktown: A Time to Healas Admiral Heilachiro Nogura2019FilmYellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywoodas (archive footage)2009FilmThe People I've Slept Withas Charles Yang2007FilmHollywood Chineseas Self2006FilmThe Slanted Screenas Himself2005TVAvatar: The Last Airbenderas Old Wanderer (voice)2003TVThreat Matrixas Kang Sok-Joo2000FilmBrotheras Sugimoto1999FilmQigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Centuryas Narrator1998FilmMulanas General Li (voice)1997FilmDriveas Mr. Lau1996TVThe Real Adventures of Jonny Questas Inspector Mantjur (voice)1996FilmSpace Marinesas Ambassador Nakamura1995FilmMidnight Manas Mao Mak1995TVCybillas Mr. Matsuzaki1994FilmCage II: The Arena of Deathas Tin Lum Yin1994FilmHart to Hart: Old Friends Never Dieas Det. Whoo1994TVBabylon 5as Taro Isogi1993TVseaQuest DSVas Vietnamese President Chi1992TVRenegade1990FilmChina Cryas Dr. Sung1990TVBeverly Hills, 90210as Ben Sosna1990FilmHome from the Eastern Seaas Narrator1989FilmCageas Tin Lum Yin1988FilmSlaying the Dragon1988FilmDie Hardas Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi1987TVJake and the Fatmanas Mr. Koso Nakasone1984TVMurder, She Wroteas John Sukahara1984TVAirwolfas Colonel Tranh Van Zung1983TVMasqueradeas Makko1983TVThe Hitchhikeras Nishi1982TVMatt Houstonas Lin Ha1982FilmThe Renegadesas Jimmy Lee1982FilmTomorrow's Childas Donald Shibura1982TVT. J. Hookeras Chow Duc Khan1981TVSimon & Simon1980TVMagnum, P.I.as Richard Enoka1980FilmEnola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bombas Field Marshal Abehata1979FilmSamuraias Takeo Chisato1977TVThe Love Boatas Bud's Father1977TVThe Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries1976TVOnce an Eagleas Lin Tso-Han1976FilmMidwayas Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo1976FilmThe Killer Who Wouldn't Dieas David Lao1975TVEllery Queenas Stephen Yang1975FilmMatt Helmas Tom McCauley1975TVS.W.A.T.1974FilmThe Yakuzaas Goro1974TVPolice Woman1974TVThe Rockford Filesas Clement Chin1974TVLittle House on the Prairieas Sam Wing1974FilmThe Questor Tapesas Dr. Chen1973FilmLost Horizonas Brother To-Lenn1972TVKung Fuas Master Kwan Li1972TVThe Streets of San Francisco1972TVEmergency!1969FilmThe Young Lawyersas Lee Ahn1969TVMedical Centeras Dr. Osaka1969FilmOperation Heartbeatas Chief Resident1968FilmEscape to Mindanaoas Lt. Takahashi1968TVHawaii Five-Oas Joseph Matsukino1968FilmManila, Open Cityas Captain Murakami1968FilmNobody's Perfectas Diver Toshi O'Hara1967FilmThe Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junkas George Ti Ming1967TVIronside1967FilmDeath Walks in Laredoas Lester Koto1966TVMission: Impossibleas Shiki1966FilmParadise, Hawaiian Styleas Danny Kohana1964FilmCarol for Another Christmasas Japanese Doctor1964TVThe Bing Crosby Show1963TVBurke's Lawas Sidney Ying1963TVThe Outer Limitsas Maj. Jong1963TVThe Lieutenant1961FilmFlower Drum Songas Wang Ta1961FilmBridge to the Sunas Hidenari Terasaki1961TVBen Casey1961TVDr. Kildareas Dr. Roy Shigera1961TVKraft Mystery Theatre1961FilmCry for Happyas Suzuki1960FilmWalk Like a Dragonas Cheng Lu1959FilmThe Crimson Kimonoas Detective Joe Kojaku1958TVNaked Cityas James Kam1957TVPerry Masonas Ward Toyama1956TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Showas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Audience Member

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