Hiroyuki SanadaActor Evolution · YouTube
Hiroyuki Sanada
Actor
66 years (Oct 12, 1960)Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Known for
One of the great Japanese actors with international projection. Western recognition with The Last Samurai (2003) alongside Tom Cruise. Starred in Sunshine (2007) by Danny Boyle, 47 Ronin (2013), The Wolverine (2013), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). Renewed recognition with the FX series Shogun (2024) as Lord Toranaga, a major recent hit that earned him the Emmy. A Japanese actor and martial artist with a wide career, a reference in action and drama cinema from his country with global projection, recognized for his imposing presence and interpretive elegance.
Hiroyuki Sanada
Actor
Known for
One of the great Japanese actors with international projection. Western recognition with The Last Samurai (2003) alongside Tom Cruise. Starred in Sunshine (2007) by Danny Boyle, 47 Ronin (2013), The Wolverine (2013), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). Renewed recognition with the FX series Shogun (2024) as Lord Toranaga, a major recent hit that earned him the Emmy. A Japanese actor and martial artist with a wide career, a reference in action and drama cinema from his country with global projection, recognized for his imposing presence and interpretive elegance.
Movies: 75 titles
Plays Akihiko
Avengers: Endgame
2019
Plays Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
Mortal Kombat II
2026
Plays Shimazu
John Wick: Chapter 4
2023
Plays The Elder
Bullet Train
2022
Plays Ujio
The Last Samurai
2003
Plays Sumo Villain (voice)
Minions
2015
Plays Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
Mortal Kombat
2021
Plays Sho Murakami
Life
2017
Plays Kenji
Rush Hour 3
2007
Plays Bly Tanaka
Army of the Dead
2021
Plays Kuranosuke Ôishi
47 Ronin
2013
Plays Mr. Musha
Speed Racer
2008
Plays Ryuji Takayama
Ring
1998
Plays Kaneda
Sunshine
2007
Plays Seibei Iguchi
The Twilight Samurai
2002
Plays Tamiki Umezaki
Mr. Holmes
2015
Plays Mitsuo Yamazaki
Minamata
2020
Plays Nagase
The Railway Man
2013
Plays Ryuji Takayama
Ring 2
1999
Plays General Guangming
The Promise
2005
Plays Actor
Fall Guy
1982
Plays Kawabata
The Catcher Was a Spy
2018
Plays Ryûji Takayama
The Spiral
1998
Plays Peter Yamamoto
Royal Warriors
1986
Plays Shingen Harada / Lord Shingen
The Wolverine
2013
Plays Matsuda
The White Countess
2005
Plays Hayate
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
1978
Plays Takeda Katsuyori
G.I. Samurai
1979
Plays Kirimaru Iga
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
Plays Chuya Nakahara
House on Fire
1986
Plays Inue Shinbei Masashi
Legend of the Eight Samurai
1983
Plays Shiro Hongo
Message from Space
1978
Plays Jotaro Fuefuki
Ninja Wars
1982
Plays Momochi Takamaru
Shogun's Ninja
1980
Plays Seiichiro Fukiya
Murder on D Street
1998
Plays Hideyuki Harada
Kinkyu Yobidashi: Emergency Call
1995
Plays Genbu
Ninja in the Dragon's Den
1982
Plays Takuminokami Asano
Crest of Betrayal
1994
Plays Bouya Tetsu
Mahjong Horoki
1984
Plays Pete
The City of Your Final Destination
2009
Plays Ryuichi Koga (child)
The Executioner
1974
Plays Dōson
Onmyoji
2001
Plays Kunihiko Yasuoka
Lovers Lost
1982
Plays Toru Hayashi
Kaito Ruby
1988
Plays Monk Miyoshi Isa
The Shogun Assassins
1979
Plays Kohei Shintani
Let's Go to the Hospital
1990
Plays Ryoma Sakamoto
Ryoma Sakamoto: Samurai Gunslinger
1989
Plays Kyoichi Takahashi
Tsugumi
1990
Plays Tonbo
Sharaku
1995
Plays Ukyo
Sure Death 4
1987
TV Shows: 19 titles
Plays Takauji Ashikaga
Taiheiki
1991
Plays Ishida Mitsunari
Hideyoshi
1996
Plays 本田 修一
ふぞろいの林檎たち
1983
Plays Matahira
Yagyu Jubei Secret Quest
1982
Plays Matabei
Yagyu's Secret Quest
1980
Plays Dr. Hiroshi Hataki
Helix
2014
Plays Hanshichi
Shin Hanshichi torimono chô
1997
Plays Hideki Yasumoto
Extant
2014
Plays Yosuke Matoba
Unmarried Family
2001
Plays Hamura Takao
High School Teacher
1993
Plays Kunihiko Yamanobe
Why I borrowed money from her
1994
Producer
Plays Yoshii Toranaga
Shōgun
2024
Plays Takehaya
The Last Ship
2014
Plays Dogen
Lost
2004
Plays Satoshi Takeda
Revenge
2011
Plays Musashi
Westworld
2016
Plays Ken Hayase
Choudenshi Bioman
1984
Plays 由良一夫
Furuhata Ninzaburo
1994
Plays Katsuya Nakayama
J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai
1977
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Mortal Kombat II
Full Filmography
Mortal Kombat II
Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
2026
Shōgun
Yoshii Toranaga · 10 episodes
2024
John Wick: Chapter 4
Shimazu
2023
Bullet Train
The Elder
2022
Army of the Dead
Bly Tanaka
2021
Mortal Kombat
Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
2021
Westworld
Musashi
2018–2020
Minamata
Mitsuo Yamazaki
2020
Avengers: Endgame
Akihiko
2019
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Hiroyuki Sanada and where are they from?
Hiroyuki Sanada is 66 years old, born on October 12, 1960 in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
What are the most famous roles of Hiroyuki Sanada?
Hiroyuki Sanada is best known for roles in Avengers: Endgame, Minions, The Wolverine.
How many movies has Hiroyuki Sanada been in?
Over a 60-year career (since 1966), Hiroyuki Sanada has appeared in 75 movies and 19 TV shows.
What was Hiroyuki Sanada's first movie?
The career of Hiroyuki Sanada began with Game of Chance (1966).
What is Hiroyuki Sanada's most recent movie or series?
Hiroyuki Sanada's most recent release is Mortal Kombat II, which premiered on May 6, 2026.
What TV shows has Hiroyuki Sanada appeared in?
On television, Hiroyuki Sanada has appeared in Westworld, Lost, Shōgun, The Last Ship.
Hiroyuki Sanada
1960-10-12 · Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Hiroyuki Sanada (真田 広之, Sanada Hiroyuki, born Hiroyuki Shimosawa (下澤 廣之, Shimosawa Hiroyuki); 12 October 1960) is a Japanese actor from Tokyo. Before breaking in to the movie business, he trained at Sonny Chiba’s Japan Action Club hoping to one day become a martial arts action film star. Sanada appeared in many action films in the 70s and early 80s, but as it became clear he was actually a talented and well-rounded actor, he was able to branch out into all different types of roles in every genre. Today he is best known in the west for his involvement in big-budget Hollywood productions such as The Last Samurai and Rush Hour 3.