James Shigeta
Acting
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.
Born: June 17, 1929
Place of Birth: Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA
Known For
The Slanted Screen
From silent film star Sessue Hayakawa to Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle, the Slanted Screen examines the portrayal Asian men in film and television, and how new filmmakers are now re-defining age-old stereotypes.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.
Manila, Open City
War drama set in the closing stages of World War Two. As Allied Forces are nearing the defeat of the Japanese Army in Manila, the Japanese Empire's soldiers begin attacking innocent civilians. A brutal month-long battle ensues.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is a five-mile long space station located in neutral space. Built by the Earth Alliance in the 2250s, its goal is to maintain peace among the various alien races by providing a sanctuary where grievances and negotiations can be worked out among duly appointed ambassadors. A council made up of representatives from the five major space-faring civilizations - the Earth Alliance, Minbari Federation, Centauri Republic, Narn Regime, and Vorlon Empire - work with the League of Non-Aligned Worlds to keep interstellar relations under control. Aside from its diplomatic function, Babylon 5 also serves as a military post for Earth and a port of call for travelers, traders, businessmen, criminals, and Rangers.
Little House on the Prairie
When the big woods of Wisconsin becomes a difficult spot for hunting, Charles Ingalls reluctantly decides to move his family, pioneering west. Their life on the farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s is full of adventure, tragedy, and triumph. Based on the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Mulan
To save her father from certain death in the army, a young woman secretly enlists in his place and becomes one of China's greatest heroines in the process.
Emergency!
The crew of Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 51, particularly the paramedic team, and Rampart Hospital respond to emergencies in their operating area.
Die Hard
NYPD cop John McClane's plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her office's Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits is an anthology tv series of self-contained sci-fi-horror stories, sometimes with a plot twist at the end.
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits is an anthology tv series of self-contained sci-fi-horror stories, sometimes with a plot twist at the end.
Filmography
as Self
as Admiral Heilachiro Nogura
as (archive footage)
as Charles Yang
as Self
as Himself
as Old Wanderer (voice)
as Kang Sok-Joo
as Sugimoto
as General Li (voice)
as Mr. Lau
as Inspector Mantjur (voice)
as Dr. Yamashiro (voice)
as Ambassador Nakamura
as Mao Mak
as Mr. Matsuzaki
as Tin Lum Yin
as Det. Whoo
as Taro Isogi
as Vietnamese President Chi
as Mr. Ota
as Dr. Sung
as Ben Sosna
as Tin Lum Yin
as Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
as Mr. Koso Nakasone
as John Sukahara
as Luc Li
as Colonel Tranh Van Zung
as Makko
as Nishi
as Lin Ha
as Jimmy Lee
as Donald Shibura
as Chow Duc Khan
as Richard Enoka
as Mr. Obotu
as Field Marshal Abehata
as Takeo Chisato
as Bud's Father
as Lin Tso-Han
as Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
as David Lao
as Stephen Yang
as Tom McCauley
as Goro
as Clement Chin
as Sam Wing
as Dr. Chen
as Brother To-Lenn
as Master Kwan Li
as Col. Lin Pei
as Prosecutor
as Lee Ahn
as Dr. Osaka
as Chief Resident
as Lt. Takahashi
as Joseph Matsukino
as Captain Murakami
as Diver Toshi O'Hara
as Lester Koto
as Shiki
as Danny Kohana
as Japanese Doctor
as Sidney Ying
as Maj. Jong
as AIO Captain Newa
as Wang Ta
as Hidenari Terasaki
as Dr. Harvey Lee
as Dr. Roy Shigera
as Harue
as Cheng Lu
as Detective Joe Kojaku
as James Kam
as Ward Toyama
as Self
as Self - Audience Member
as Self - Nominee