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James Shigeta
James Shigeta

James Shigeta

Actor
85 years (Jun 17, 1929 – Jul 28, 2014)Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA
James Shigeta has spent most of a working life as an American actor who has spent far more time working than being talked about. Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi in 'Die Hard' is the role that outgrew the rest. He appears in 'Mulan' too. The filmography leans toward action. With 55 credits to his name, volume is part of the story.
James Shigeta has spent most of a working life as an American actor who has spent far more time working than being talked about. Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi in 'Die Hard' is the role that outgrew the rest. He appears in 'Mulan' too. The filmography leans toward action. With 55 credits to his name, volume is part of the story.
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The People I've Slept With
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The People I've Slept With
Full Filmography
The People I've Slept With
Charles Yang
★ 4.4
2010
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Old Wanderer (voice)
★ 8.8
2005Season 1
Threat Matrix
Kang Sok-Joo
★ 6.2
2003Season 1
Brother
Sugimoto
★ 7.1
2000
Beverly Hills, 90210
Ben Sosna
★ 7.3
1999Season 10
Beverly Hills, 90210
Ben Sosna
★ 7.3
1998Season 9
Mulan
General Li (voice)
★ 7.9
1998
Drive
Mr. Lau
★ 6.2
1997
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Inspector Mantjur (voice)
★ 7.2
1996Season 2
Frequently Asked Questions
Is James Shigeta still alive?
James Shigeta passed away on July 28, 2014 at age 85.
What are the most famous roles of James Shigeta?
James Shigeta is best known for roles in Die Hard, Mulan, Brother.
How many movies has James Shigeta been in?
Over a 55-year career (since 1959), James Shigeta has appeared in 22 movies and 33 TV shows.
What was James Shigeta's first movie?
The career of James Shigeta began with The Crimson Kimono (1959).
What is James Shigeta's most recent movie or series?
James Shigeta's most recent release is The People I've Slept With, which premiered on August 13, 2010.
What TV shows has James Shigeta appeared in?
On television, James Shigeta has appeared in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Little House on the Prairie, Beverly Hills, 90210, Babylon 5.
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James Shigeta
James Shigeta
1929-06-17 · Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

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.

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