About

Known credits:
191
Birthday:
1920-04-02
Place of birth:
Qingdao, China
Website:
Click here

Toshirō Mifune

Overview

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

Acting
2020 Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2016 Mifune: The Last Samurai Actor Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage) 59
Average
2002 Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress' Actor Self 58
Average
2000 Kurosawa Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1998 Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
1996 The Making of '1941' Actor (archive) 58
Average
1995 Picture Bride Actor The Benshi 59
Average
1995 Deep River Actor Tsukada 59
Average
1992 Shadow of the Wolf Actor Kroomak 58
Average
1991 Journey of Honor Actor Ieyasu Tokugawa 58
Average
1991 Strawberry Road Actor Taoka 59
Average
1990 Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode Actor Nagao Tamekage 59
Average
1989 cf Girl Actor Shūichirō Hase 59
Average
1989 Death of a Tea Master Actor Rikyu Sen-no 59
Average
1989 The Demon Comes in Spring Actor Kukkune no jî N/A
N/A
1987 Princess from the Moon Actor Taketori-no-Miyatsuko 59
Average
1987 The Retired Samurai Actor Hikozaemon Ōkubo N/A
N/A
1987 Tora-san Goes North Actor Junkichi Ueno 59
Average
1987 The Shatterer Actor Murai N/A
N/A
1986 The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai Actor Kyūbei Matsufuji 58
Average
1985 No More God, No More Love Actor Kōzō Kanzaki 58
Average
1984 The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel Actor Fisherman 58
Average
1984 Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire Actor Shūsai Kondō N/A
N/A
1984 Burning Mountain River Actor Otsuichi Amo N/A
N/A
1983 Secret of the Forbidden Valley Actor N/A
N/A
1983 The Women of Osaka Castle Actor Tokugawa Ieyasu N/A
N/A
1983 Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass Actor Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô N/A
N/A
1983 Battle Anthem Actor Admiral Heihachiro Togo 58
Average
1983 Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl Actor Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô N/A
N/A
1983 Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell Actor Sanjuro Hinoki N/A
N/A
1983 Theater Of Life Actor Hyōtarō Aonari N/A
N/A
1982 Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood Actor Sanjuro Hinoki N/A
N/A
1982 Domineering Actor Masao Tadokoro 59
Average
1982 The Challenge Actor Toru Yoshida 58
Average
1982 The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn Actor N/A
N/A
1982 Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2 Actor Tamon Umei N/A
N/A
1981 Lowly Ronin Actor Sanjuro Hinoki N/A
N/A
1981 The Bushido Blade Actor Shogun's Commander 58
Average
1981 Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1 Actor Tamon Umei 59
Average
1981 Inchon Actor Saito-San 58
Average
1981 Sekigahara Actor Sakon Shima 69
Fair
1980 Shōgun Actor Lord Yoshi Toranaga 74
Good
1980 Port Arthur Actor Emperor Meiji 59
Average
1979 1941 Actor Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura 58
Average
1979 Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police Actor Sadanobu Matsudaira 59
Average
1979 The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi Actor Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye" 58
Average
1979 Winter Kills Actor Keith 58
Average
1979 The 47 Ronins of Ako Actor Tachibana Sakon N/A
N/A
1978 Lord Mito Actor Sakuzaemon Okumura 59
Average
1978 The Fall of Ako Castle Actor Tsuchiya Michinao 59
Average
1978 Japanese Godfather: Conclusion Actor Kosuke Oishi 59
Average
1978 Love and Faith Actor Taiko Hideyoshi 59
Average
1978 Shag Actor Captain Takeo Murata 59
Average
1978 Shogun's Samurai Actor Yoshinao Tokugawa 59
Average
1978 Falcons of Edo Actor Kanbei Uchiyama N/A
N/A
1977 Japanese Godfather: Ambition Actor Kosuke Oishi 59
Average
1977 Proof of the Man Actor Yohei Kori 59
Average
1976 Midway Actor Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 61
Fair
1976 Ronin in a Lawless Town Actor Mr. Danna N/A
N/A
1975 Paper Tiger Actor Ambassador Kagoyama 59
Average
1972 Ronin of the Wastelands Actor Kujuro Toge N/A
N/A
1971 Red Sun Actor Kuroda Jubei 62
Fair
1971 Epic Chushingura Actor Oishi Kuranosuke N/A
N/A
1970 The Militarists Actor Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto 59
Average
1970 The Walking Major Actor Kinugasa Tadao 58
Average
1970 Incident at Blood Pass Actor Yojimbo 59
Average
1970 The Ambitious Actor Shojiro Goto 59
Average
1970 Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo Actor Yojimbo/Sasa 59
Average
1969 Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor Actor Isami Kondo 59
Average
1969 Red Lion Actor Gonzo 59
Average
1969 Battle of the Japan Sea Actor Admiral Heihachiro Togo 58
Average
1969 Safari 5000 Actor Yūichirō Takase 58
Average
1969 Samurai Banners Actor Kansuke Yamamoto 59
Average
1968 Hell in the Pacific Actor Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda 61
Fair
1968 The Day the Sun Rose Actor Kumaza 59
Average
1968 Admiral Yamamoto Actor Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 59
Average
1968 The Sands of Kurobe Actor Kitagawa 58
Average
1967 Japan's Longest Day Actor War Minister General Korechika Anami 59
Average
1967 Samurai Rebellion Actor Isaburo Sasahara 66
Fair
1966 Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions Actor Self N/A
N/A
1966 Grand Prix Actor Izō Yamura 62
Fair
1966 Rise Against the Sword Actor Abare Gōemon 59
Average
1966 The Mad Atlantic Actor Heihachirô Murakami N/A
N/A
1966 Adventure in Kigan Castle Actor Osami 58
Average
1966 The Sword of Doom Actor Toranosuke Shimada 64
Fair
1965 Fort Graveyard Actor Sergeant Kosugi 59
Average
1965 The Retreat from Kiska Actor Omura 59
Average
1965 Sanshiro Sugata Actor Shogoro Yano 59
Average
1965 Red Beard Actor Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard") 68
Fair
1965 Samurai Assassin Actor Tsuruchiyo Niiro 60
Fair
1964 Whirlwind Actor Lord Akashi 59
Average
1963 Samurai Pirate Actor Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version] 58
Average
1963 Legacy of the 500,000 Actor Takeichi Matsuo 59
Average
1963 High and Low Actor Kingo Gondo 74
Good
1963 Attack Squadron Actor Lt. Colonel Senda 59
Average
1962 Chûshingura Actor Genba Tawaraboshi 59
Average
1962 Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong Actor Zhang Zhizhang N/A
N/A
1962 Doburoku no Tatsu Actor Tatsu N/A
N/A
1962 Sanjuro Actor Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin 69
Fair
1961 The Important Man Actor Ánimas Trujano 59
Average
1961 The Youth and His Amulet Actor Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King) N/A
N/A
1961 Yojimbo Actor Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai 75
Good
1961 The Masterless 47 – Part II Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Daredevil in the Castle Actor Mohei 59
Average
1960 The Masterless 47 Actor Kazuo Momoi N/A
N/A
1960 The Bad Sleep Well Actor Kôichi Nishi 64
Fair
1960 Man Against Man Actor Kaji N/A
N/A
1960 The Storm of the Pacific Actor Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi 58
Average
1960 The Gambling Samurai Actor Kunisada Chuji 59
Average
1960 The Last Gunfight Actor Detective Saburo Fujioka 59
Average
1959 The Three Treasures Actor Prince Yamato Takeru 58
Average
1959 Desperado Outpost Actor Battalion Commander 59
Average
1959 Saga of the Vagabonds Actor Rokuro Kai 59
Average
1959 Samurai Saga Actor Heihachiro Komaki 59
Average
1959 The Big Boss Actor Kashimura 59
Average
1958 The Hidden Fortress Actor General Rokurota Makabe 70
Good
1958 Theater of Life Actor N/A
N/A
1958 All About Marriage Actor Acting teacher N/A
N/A
1958 Yaji and Kita on the Road Actor Toshinoshin Taya N/A
N/A
1958 The Rickshaw Man Actor Matsugorō Tomishima 59
Average
1958 A Holiday in Tokyo Actor Tenkai's nephew Jirō N/A
N/A
1958 Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II Actor Tasaburo 58
Average
1957 Down Town Actor Yoshio Tsuruishi N/A
N/A
1957 The Lower Depths Actor Sutekichi the Thief 61
Fair
1957 A Dangerous Hero Actor Kawada N/A
N/A
1957 Yagyu Secret Scrolls Actor Tasaburō Kasumi 59
Average
1957 Good Luck to These Two Actor Toshio Maruyama 58
Average
1957 A Man in the Storm Actor Saburō Watari N/A
N/A
1957 Throne of Blood Actor Taketori Washizu 71
Good
1956 Rebels on the High Sea Actor Matsuo Tokuzō N/A
N/A
1956 Scoundrel Actor Kanji N/A
N/A
1956 A Wife's Heart Actor Kenkichi 59
Average
1956 Settlement of Love Actor Shuntarō Ōhira N/A
N/A
1956 The Underworld Actor Chief Inspector Kumada N/A
N/A
1956 Rainy Night Duel Actor Masahiko Koseki N/A
N/A
1956 Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island Actor Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo 61
Fair
1955 I Live in Fear Actor Kiichi Nakajima 61
Fair
1955 Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple Actor Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo 61
Fair
1955 No Time for Tears Actor Mitsuo Yano N/A
N/A
1955 All is Well 2 Actor Daikichi Risshun N/A
N/A
1955 All is Well Actor Daikichi Risshun N/A
N/A
1955 A Man Among Men Actor "Buick" Maki N/A
N/A
1954 The Black Fury Actor Eiichi Tsuda N/A
N/A
1954 The Surf Actor Skipper of the Utashima-maru N/A
N/A
1954 Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto Actor Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo 62
Fair
1954 Seven Samurai Actor Kikuchiyo 81
Very good
1953 The Eagle of the Pacific Actor 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga 59
Average
1953 Sunflower Girl Actor Ippei Hitachi N/A
N/A
1953 The Last Embrace Actor Shinkichi / Hayakawa N/A
N/A
1953 My Wonderful Yellow Car Actor Matsumura 59
Average
1952 The Man Who Came to Port Actor Gorō Niinuma 59
Average
1952 Swift Current Actor Shunsuke Kosugi N/A
N/A
1952 Tokyo Sweetheart Actor Kurokawa 59
Average
1952 Sword for Hire Actor Sasa Hayatenosuke 59
Average
1952 Kin no tamago: Golden Girl Actor N/A
N/A
1952 The Life of Oharu Actor Katsunosuke 63
Fair
1952 Foghorn Actor Chiyokichi N/A
N/A
1952 Vendetta of a Samurai Actor Mataemon Araki 59
Average
1951 Who Knows a Woman's Heart Actor Mizuno N/A
N/A
1951 The Life of a Horse Trader Actor Yonetaro Katayama 59
Average
1951 Sasaki Kojiro Actor Miyamoto Musashi 59
Average
1951 Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre Actor Kenji Kawakami N/A
N/A
1951 Pirates Actor Tora N/A
N/A
1951 The Idiot Actor Denkichi Akama 60
Fair
1951 Elegy Actor Prosecutor Daisuke Toki N/A
N/A
1951 Beyond Love and Hate Actor Gorō Sakata N/A
N/A
1950 Rashomon Actor Tajômaru 76
Good
1950 Wedding Ring Actor Takeshi Ema 59
Average
1950 Scandal Actor Ichirô Aoye 60
Fair
1950 Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka Actor Teisaku Nagasawa 58
Average
1950 Escape from Prison Actor Shinkichi N/A
N/A
1949 Stray Dog Actor Det. Murakami 64
Fair
1949 Jakoman and Tetsu Actor Tetsu N/A
N/A
1949 The Quiet Duel Actor Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki 60
Fair
1948 Drunken Angel Actor Matsunaga 64
Fair
1947 These Foolish Times Actor Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss N/A
N/A
1947 Snow Trail Actor Eijima 59
Average

Directing
1963 Legacy of the 500,000 Directing Director 59
Average

Production
1979 Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police Production Associate Producer 59
Average
1978 Shag Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1972 Ronin of the Wastelands Production Associate Producer N/A
N/A
1971 Morning for Two Production Producer N/A
N/A
1970 Incident at Blood Pass Production Producer 59
Average
1969 Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor Production Producer 59
Average
1969 Red Lion Production Producer 59
Average
1969 Samurai Banners Production Producer 59
Average
1967 Samurai Rebellion Production Producer 66
Fair
1966 The Mad Atlantic Production Executive Producer N/A
N/A
1966 Adventure in Kigan Castle Production Associate Producer 58
Average
1965 Fort Graveyard Production Associate Producer 59
Average
1963 Legacy of the 500,000 Production Associate Producer 59
Average