Japanese actor who achieved more world-wide fame than any other Japanese actor of his century. Toshirô Mifune was born in Tsingtao to Japanese parents and grew up in Dalian. He did not set foot in Japan until he was 21. His father was an importer and a commercial photographer, and young Mifune worked in his father's studio for a time after graduating from Dalian Middle School. He was automatica ...  show all 

Japanese actor who achieved more world-wide fame than any other Japanese actor of his century. Toshirô Mifune was born in Tsingtao to Japanese parents and grew up in Dalian. He did not set foot in Japan until he was 21. His father was an importer and a commercial photographer, and young Mifune worked in his father's studio for a time after graduating from Dalian Middle School. He was automatically drafted when he turned 20, and enlisted in the Air Force where he was attached to the Aerial Photography Unit for the duration of the Second World War. In 1947, he took a test for Kajiro Yamamoto, who recommended him to director Senkichi Taniguchi, thus leading to Mifune's first film role in Shin Baka Jidai (1947). Mifune then met and bonded with director Akira Kurosawa, and the two joined to become the most prominent actor-director pairing in all Japanese cinema. Beginning with 'Yoidore tenshi' (1948), Mifune appeared in sixteen of Kurosawa's films, most of which have become world-renowned classics. In Kurosawa's pictures, especially 'Rashomon' (1950), Mifune would become most famous Japanese actor in the world. A dynamic and ferocious actor, he excelled in action roles, but had as well the depth to plumb intricate and subtle dramatic parts. A personal rift during the filming of 'Akahige' (1965) ended the Mifune-Kurosawa collaboration, but Mifune continued to perform leading roles in major films both in Japan and in foreign countries. He was twice named Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival (for 'Yojimbo' (1961) and 'Akahige' (1965)). In 1963, he formed his own production company and directed one film and produced several others. In his later years, he gained new fame in the title role of the American TV miniseries "Shogun" (1980), and appeared infrequently in cameo roles after that. His last years were plagued with Alzheimer's Syndrome and he died of organ failure in 1997, a few months before the death of the director with whose name he will forever be linked, Akira Kurosawa.
The Wolf
(October 1997) Ranked #90 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
Mifune, Toshiro
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