FMovies Logo
James Shigeta
James Shigeta

James Shigeta

ActingBorn June 17, 1929Died July 28, 2014 (age 85)Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

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.

Filmography

2025Movie
2022
Yorktown: A Time to Heal

as Admiral Heilachiro Nogura

Movie
2009Movie
2007Movie
2006Movie
2005
Avatar: The Last Airbender

as Old Wanderer (voice)

TV
2003
Threat Matrix

as Kang Sok-Joo

TV
2000
Brother

as Sugimoto

Movie
1998
Mulan

as General Li (voice)

Movie
1997
Drive

as Mr. Lau

Movie
1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

as Inspector Mantjur (voice)

TV
1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

as Dr. Yamashiro (voice)

TV
1996
Space Marines

as Ambassador Nakamura

Movie
1995
Midnight Man

as Mao Mak

Movie
1995
Cybill

as Mr. Matsuzaki

TV
1994Movie
1994
Babylon 5

as Taro Isogi

TV
1993
seaQuest DSV

as Vietnamese President Chi

TV
1992TV
1992
Renegade

as Mr. Ota

TV
1990
China Cry

as Dr. Sung

Movie
1990TV
1990Movie
1989
Cage

as Tin Lum Yin

Movie
1988
Die Hard

as Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi

Movie
1987
Jake and the Fatman

as Mr. Koso Nakasone

TV
1984
Murder, She Wrote

as John Sukahara

TV
1984TV
1984
Airwolf

as Colonel Tranh Van Zung

TV
1983
Masquerade

as Makko

TV
1983TV
1982
Matt Houston

as Lin Ha

TV
1982
The Renegades

as Jimmy Lee

Movie
1982
Tomorrow's Child

as Donald Shibura

Movie
1982
T. J. Hooker

as Chow Duc Khan

TV
1980
Magnum, P.I.

as Richard Enoka

TV
1980
Magnum, P.I.

as Mr. Obotu

TV
1980Movie
1979
Samurai

as Takeo Chisato

Movie
1977
The Love Boat

as Bud's Father

TV
1976
Once an Eagle

as Lin Tso-Han

TV
1976
Midway

as Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo

Movie
1976Movie
1975
Ellery Queen

as Stephen Yang

TV
1975
Matt Helm

as Tom McCauley

Movie
1975TV
1974
The Yakuza

as Goro

Movie
1974
The Rockford Files

as Clement Chin

TV
1974Movie
1973
Lost Horizon

as Brother To-Lenn

Movie
1972
Kung Fu

as Master Kwan Li

TV
1972
Kung Fu

as Col. Lin Pei

TV
1972TV
1969Movie
1969
Medical Center

as Dr. Osaka

TV
1969
Operation Heartbeat

as Chief Resident

Movie
1968
Escape to Mindanao

as Lt. Takahashi

Movie
1968
Hawaii Five-O

as Joseph Matsukino

TV
1968
Manila, Open City

as Captain Murakami

Movie
1968
Nobody's Perfect

as Diver Toshi O'Hara

Movie
1967TV
1967
Death Walks in Laredo

as Lester Koto

Movie
1966TV
1966Movie
1964
Carol for Another Christmas

as Japanese Doctor

Movie
1963
Burke's Law

as Sidney Ying

TV
1963
The Outer Limits

as Maj. Jong

TV
1963
The Outer Limits

as AIO Captain Newa

TV
1961Movie
1961
Bridge to the Sun

as Hidenari Terasaki

Movie
1961TV
1961
Ben Casey

as Dr. Harvey Lee

TV
1961
Dr. Kildare

as Dr. Roy Shigera

TV
1961
Cry for Happy

as Suzuki

Movie
1960Movie
1959
The Crimson Kimono

as Detective Joe Kojaku

Movie
1958
Naked City

as James Kam

TV
1957
Perry Mason

as Ward Toyama

TV
1944
Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Audience Member

TV
1944
Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee

TV
1944
Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Winner

TV

Personal Info

DepartmentActing
BirthdayJune 17, 1929
Day of DeathJuly 28, 2014
Place of BirthHonolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA
Popularity0.7