Sessue Hayakawa
Acting
Sessue Hayakawa (June 10, 1889 – November 23, 1973) was a Japanese and American Issei (Japanese immigrant) actor who starred in American, Japanese, French, German, and British films. Hayakawa was the first and one of the few Asian actors to find stardom in the United States as well as Europe. Between the mid-1910s and the late 1920s, he was as well known as actors Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks. He was one of the highest paid stars of his time; making $5,000 a week in 1915, and $2 million a year via his own production company during the 1920s. He starred in over 80 movies and has two films in the U.S. National Film Registry. His international stardom transitioned both silent films and talkies. Of his English-language films, Hayakawa is probably best known for his role as Colonel Saito in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he received a nomination for Academy Award Best Supporting Actor in 1957. He also appeared as the pirate leader in Disney's Swiss Family Robinson in 1960. In addition to his film acting career, Hayakawa was a theatre actor, film and theatre producer, film director, screenwriter, novelist, martial artist, and an ordained Zen master. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sessue Hayakawa, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Acting100
movieYellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
2019
(archive footage)
movieWhy Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
2007
Self (archive footage)
movieSwiss Family Robinson: Adventure in the Making
2002
Self (archive)
movieLover's Duet
1967
Tajima
movieThe Daydreamer
1966
The Mole (voice)
tvTaikouki
1965
Takeda Shingen
movieThe Big Wave
1961
The Old Man
movieSwiss Family Robinson
1960
Kuala, Pirate Chief
movieHell to Eternity
1960
General Matsui
movieThe Geisha Boy
1958
Mr. Sikita
movieThe Bridge on the River Kwai
1957
Col. Saito
tvWagon Train
1957
Sakae Ito
movieHouse of Bamboo
1955
Inspector Kito
movieKurama Tengu and Katsu Kaishū
1953
Awanokami Katsu
movieThe Tragic General: Yamashita Tomoyuki
1953
Tomoyuki Yamashita
movie47 Vendettas
1953
Sakon Tachibana
movieThe Motherland Far Far Away
1950
Joe Hayami
movieThree Came Home
1950
Colonel Michio Suga
movieTokyo Joe
1949
Baron Kimura
movieLe Cabaret du Grand Large
1946
Professeur Wang
movieGambling Hell
1942
Ying Tchaï
movieTempête sur l'Asie
1938
Prinz Ling
movieForfaiture
1937
Prince Hu-Long
movieYoshiwara
1937
Ysamo, Kuli
movieThe Daughter of the Samurai
1937
Iwao Yamato
Running Hollywood
1932
Sessue Hayakawa
movieThe Danger Line
1924
Marquis Yorisaka
movieThe Great Prince Shan
1924
Prince Shan
movieThe Battle
1923
Le Marquis Yorisaka
movieThe Vermilion Pencil
1922
Tse Chan / The Unknown / Li Chan
movieFive Days to Live
1922
Tai Leung
movieWhere Lights Are Low
1921
T''Su Wong Shih
movieThe First Born
1921
Chan Wang
movieLi Ting Lang
1920
Li Ting Lang
movieThe Devil's Claim
1920
Akbar Khan / Hassan
movieThe Brand of Lopez
1920
Vasco Lopez
movieThe Beggar Prince
1920
Nikki / Prince
movieThe Tong Man
1919
Luk Chen
movieThe Illustrious Prince
1919
Prince Maiyo
movieBonds of Honor
1919
Yamashito / Sasamoto
movieThe Dragon Painter
1919
Tatsu - the Dragon Painter
movieThe Gray Horizon
1919
Yamo Masata
movieThe Man Beneath
1919
Dr. Chindi Ashutor
movieHis Debt
1919
Goto Mariyama
movieThe Courageous Coward
1919
Suki Iota
movieA Heart in Pawn
1919
Tomaya
Banzai
1918
The American General
movieThe City of Dim Faces
1918
Jang Lung
movieThe Bravest Way
1918
Kara Tamura
The White Man's Law
1918
John A. Genghis
movieThe Honor of His House
1918
Count Ito Onato
movieHidden Pearls
1918
Tom Garvin
movieThe Secret Game
1917
Nara-Nara
movieThe Call of the East
1917
Arai Takada
movieHashimura Togo
1917
Hashimura Togo
movieThe Jaguar's Claws
1917
El Jaguar
movieThe Bottle Imp
1917
Lopaka
movieEach to His Kind
1917
Rhandah
movieThe Victoria Cross
1916
Azimoolah
movieAlien Souls
1916
Sakata
movieTemptation
1915
Opera Admirer
movieThe Cheat
1915
Hishuru Tori [Haka Arakau]
movieThe Secret Sin
1915
Lin Foo
movieAfter Five
1915
Oki - the Valet
movieThe Last of the Line
1914
Tiah - Gray Otter's Son
movieThe Typhoon
1914
Tokorama
movieThe Death Mask
1914
Running Wolf
movieThe Wrath of the Gods
1914
Lord Yamaki
movieO Mimi san
1914
Yorotomo
Production4
movieWhere Lights Are Low
1921
Producer
movieBlack Roses
1921
Producer
movieThe First Born
1921
Producer
movieHis Birthright
1918
Producer