Japanese movie stars died in 2001
Here are 4 famous actors from Japan died in 2001:
Ginzō Matsuo
Ginzō Matsuo (December 26, 1951 Nakatsu-August 25, 2001) also known as Ginzo Matsuo, Kouichi Matsuo, Koichi Matsuo, Matsuo Ginzō, Matsuo Koichi or Ginzô Matsuo was a Japanese voice actor, actor and entrepreneur.
He was born on December 26, 1951 in Nakatsu, Japan. Matsuo began his career in the entertainment industry as a voice actor, lending his voice to various anime series and video games. He was well-known for his roles in popular anime series such as "Dragon Ball Z," "Fist of the North Star," and "Mobile Suit Gundam."
In addition to his work in voice acting, Matsuo was also an accomplished actor, appearing in a number of Japanese films and TV dramas. He was also the founder of the talent agency, G-STAR, which represented numerous actors and voice actors.
Tragically, Matsuo passed away on August 25, 2001 at the young age of 49 due to liver cancer. Despite his premature death, he left behind a legacy in the entertainment industry and is still remembered and celebrated by his fans today.
Read more about Ginzō Matsuo on Wikipedia »
Kōji Nanbara
Kōji Nanbara (June 7, 1927 Yokohama-December 20, 2001 Chofu) a.k.a. Uwaji Itsui, 則竹 卯和二, Nanbara Koji, Shinji Nanbara, Itsui Uwaji, 伍井 卯和二, Nanbara Shinji, 船上 爽, なんばら こうじ, 南原 宏治, 南原 伸二, なんばら しんじ, いつい うわじ, Kôji Nambara, Nambara Kôji, Nambara Shinji or Shinji Nambara was a Japanese actor. He had three children, Eri Koike, Kenro Nanbara and Seiro Yamaguchi.
Nanbara began his acting career in the 1950s and appeared in over 200 films and television dramas during his career. He was known for his roles in samurai films and is considered one of the most prominent actors in the genre. His most famous role was in the television series "Zenigata Heiji" where he played a detective. Nanbara also appeared in international films, including "The Yakuza" directed by Sydney Pollack. He received several awards for his contributions to Japanese cinema, including the Blue Ribbon Awards and the Japan Academy Prize. In addition to his acting career, Nanbara was a professor of theater at Toho Gakuen College. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 74.
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Hiroshi Tsuburaya
Hiroshi Tsuburaya (March 8, 1964 Setagaya-July 24, 2001 Sagamihara) also known as 円谷 浩 or 円谷 寛 was a Japanese actor.
He was the grandson of special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya and the son of special effects director Hajime Tsuburaya. Hiroshi Tsuburaya followed in his family's footsteps and started his career as a special effects director at Tsuburaya Productions in 1987. He worked on various popular productions such as "Ultraman 80" and "Ultraman: Towards the Future". In 1994, he made his acting debut in the TV drama "The Detective Loves to Eat". Tsuburaya gained popularity as an actor and appeared in various movies and TV dramas including "Love and Pop", "Returner", "Dr. Koto's Clinic", and "Ikebukuro West Gate Park". He was also a talented guitarist and formed a band called "The Emeralds". Tsuburaya tragically died at the young age of 37 due to a heart attack.
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Koichi Chiba
Koichi Chiba (August 13, 1931 Iwate Prefecture-November 9, 2001) also known as Kôichi Chiba was a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He began his acting career in the 1950s and appeared in over 100 films and television dramas throughout his career. He was known for his work in action films, often playing tough or villainous characters. Chiba also lent his voice to numerous anime series and films, including Mobile Suit Gundam and Dragon Ball Z. In addition to acting, Chiba was a skilled martial artist and held a fifth-degree black belt in karate. He passed away at the age of 70 due to kidney failure.
Read more about Koichi Chiba on Wikipedia »