Japanese movie stars died at 56
Here are 5 famous actors from Japan died at 56:
Kei Tomiyama
Kei Tomiyama (October 31, 1938 Anshan-September 25, 1995 Shinjuku) also known as Kunichika Tomiyama, Tomiyama Kunichika, Tomiyama Kei or Toyama, Kei was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator.
He died in pancreatic cancer.
Kei Tomiyama was born in Anshan, Manchukuo, which is currently known as Anshan, China. He started his career as a stage actor in 1960. Later on, he made his debut in voice acting in the anime series 'Kyojin no Hoshi'. He was known for his distinct voice and played many leading roles in anime series such as 'Space Battleship Yamato', 'Captain Harlock', 'Ultraman', and 'Getter Robo'. Tomiyama was also fluent in several languages, including Chinese and Korean. In addition to his work as a voice actor, he also appeared in various live-action films and television dramas. Despite his success in the entertainment industry, Tomiyama was a private person who rarely gave interviews. He was posthumously awarded the Merit Award at the first Seiyu Awards ceremony in 2007 for his contributions to the voice acting industry.
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Hirotaka Suzuoki
Hirotaka Suzuoki (March 6, 1950 Nagoya-August 6, 2006 Suginami) otherwise known as Suzuoki Hirotaka was a Japanese voice actor, actor and theatrical producer.
He died caused by lung cancer.
Suzuoki Hirotaka was known for his many iconic roles in anime and video games. Some of his most famous roles include Captain Bright Noa in "Mobile Suit Gundam," Tenma Abura in "Saint Seiya," Hiko Seijuro in "Rurouni Kenshin," and Advokaiser in "Brigadier Musashi." He was also the voice of Sleggar Law in the English dub of "Mobile Suit Gundam." In addition to voice acting, he also worked as a live-action actor and theatrical producer. Suzuoki was known for his distinctive voice and charismatic performances, making him a beloved figure in the Japanese voice acting industry. His fans were saddened by his untimely death at the age of 56.
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Akihiko Hirata
Akihiko Hirata (December 16, 1927 Seoul-July 25, 1984 Tokyo) a.k.a. Akihiko Onoda, Hirata Akihiko or Onoda Akihiko was a Japanese actor.
He died in lung cancer.
Hirata is known for his roles in numerous kaiju films, particularly those produced by Toho Studios. He played Dr. Serizawa in the original 1954 Godzilla film, and he also appeared in several other Godzilla movies, including Mothra vs. Godzilla and Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. In addition to his work in kaiju films, Hirata also appeared in several samurai films and yakuza movies. He worked closely with director Akira Kurosawa and appeared in several of his films, including Seven Samurai and Ikiru. Hirata was also a stage actor and a voice actor, providing voices for several anime series.
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Masato Sako
Masato Sako (November 9, 1946 Iwakuni-January 11, 2003) was a Japanese actor and voice actor. His child is called Mayumi Sako.
Masato Sako started his acting career in the early 1970s and appeared in numerous Japanese films and TV dramas. He was also a talented voice actor, lending his voice to many animated characters in popular anime series.
Some of his notable roles as a voice actor include Hasegawa Taizou in "Sazae-san", Kimura Youhei in "Touch", and Tamasaburou in "Chibi Maruko-chan". He was also the official Japanese dubbing voice for Richard Gere in several Hollywood movies.
Aside from his acting career, Sako was also a skilled musician and composer, and he released several albums throughout his career.
Unfortunately, Sako passed away in 2003 at the age of 56 due to a sudden heart attack. Despite his short life, he left a mark on the Japanese entertainment industry and is remembered fondly by his fans and colleagues.
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Kazumi Tanaka
Kazumi Tanaka (August 11, 1951 Suginami-December 20, 2007 Tama) also known as Tanaka Kazumi was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He died caused by cardiovascular disease.
Kazumi Tanaka voiced many notable characters in his career, including Takeshi Nakazato from "Initial D," Torque from "Jak II," and Rajaion from "Final Fantasy XII." Before becoming a voice actor, he began his career as an actor and appeared in several TV dramas and films, including "Oira Sukeban" and "Contiguous Sky." In addition to his work in voice acting, Tanaka also worked as a dubbing director for foreign films and TV shows. He was known for his deep and distinctive voice, which allowed him to portray a wide range of character roles throughout his career. Tanaka's contributions to the anime and entertainment industry in Japan are still appreciated by fans today.
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