James Shigeta
Acting
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
Acting86
movieYorktown: A Time to Heal
2022
Admiral Heilachiro Nogura
movieYellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
2019
(archive footage)
movieThe People I've Slept With
2009
Charles Yang
movieThe Slanted Screen
2006
Himself
tvAvatar: The Last Airbender
2005
Old Wanderer (voice)
tvThreat Matrix
2003
Kang Sok-Joo
movieBrother
2000
Sugimoto
movieMulan
1998
General Li (voice)
movieDrive
1997
Mr. Lau
tvThe Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
1996
Inspector Mantjur (voice) / Dr. Yamashiro (voice)
movieSpace Marines
1996
Ambassador Nakamura
movieMidnight Man
1995
Mao Mak
tvCybill
1995
Mr. Matsuzaki
movieCage II: The Arena of Death
1994
Tin Lum Yin
tvBabylon 5
1994
Taro Isogi
tvseaQuest DSV
1993
Vietnamese President Chi
tvRenegade
1992
Mr. Ota
movieChina Cry
1990
Dr. Sung
tvBeverly Hills, 90210
1990
Ben Sosna
movieCage
1989
Tin Lum Yin
movieDie Hard
1988
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
tvJake and the Fatman
1987
Mr. Koso Nakasone
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
John Sukahara / Luc Li
tvAirwolf
1984
Colonel Tranh Van Zung
tvMasquerade
1983
Makko
tvThe Hitchhiker
1983
Nishi
tvMatt Houston
1982
Lin Ha
movieThe Renegades
1982
Jimmy Lee
movieTomorrow's Child
1982
Donald Shibura
tvT. J. Hooker
1982
Chow Duc Khan
tvMagnum, P.I.
1980
Richard Enoka / Mr. Obotu
movieEnola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb
1980
Field Marshal Abehata
movieSamurai
1979
Takeo Chisato
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Bud's Father
tvOnce an Eagle
1976
Lin Tso-Han
movieMidway
1976
Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
movieThe Killer Who Wouldn't Die
1976
David Lao
tvEllery Queen
1975
Stephen Yang
movieMatt Helm
1975
Tom McCauley
tvThe Rockford Files
1974
Clement Chin
movieThe Questor Tapes
1974
Dr. Chen
movieLost Horizon
1973
Brother To-Lenn
tvKung Fu
1972
Master Kwan Li / Col. Lin Pei
tvThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
Prosecutor
movieThe Young Lawyers
1969
Lee Ahn
tvMedical Center
1969
Dr. Osaka
movieOperation Heartbeat
1969
Chief Resident
movieEscape to Mindanao
1968
Lt. Takahashi
tvHawaii Five-O
1968
Joseph Matsukino
movieManila, Open City
1968
Captain Murakami
movieNobody's Perfect
1968
Diver Toshi O'Hara
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk
1967
George Ti Ming
movieDeath Walks in Laredo
1967
Lester Koto
movieParadise, Hawaiian Style
1966
Danny Kohana
movieCarol for Another Christmas
1964
Japanese Doctor
tvBurke's Law
1963
Sidney Ying
tvThe Outer Limits
1963
Maj. Jong / AIO Captain Newa
movieFlower Drum Song
1961
Wang Ta
movieBridge to the Sun
1961
Hidenari Terasaki
tvBen Casey
1961
Dr. Harvey Lee
tvDr. Kildare
1961
Dr. Roy Shigera
movieCry for Happy
1961
Suzuki
movieWalk Like a Dragon
1960
Cheng Lu
movieThe Crimson Kimono
1959
Detective Joe Kojaku
tvNaked City
1958
James Kam
tvPerry Mason
1957
Ward Toyama
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Audience Member / Self - Nominee / Self - Winner