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James Shigeta

Actor | Soundtrack

Hawaiian-born James Shigeta was for a time the biggest Asian-American star the country had known for decades. His up-and-down career reflected America's changing interest in films with Eastern themes, but when called upon he filled both A-movie starring roles and minor TV guest appearances with the same cool and classy style... See full bio »

Born:

in Hawaii, USA
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Mulan
Mon. May 28 4:00 AM on DISN
Midway
Mon. May 28 5:00 PM on AMC
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Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel

My Demo Reel -- No description provided.

My Demo Reel

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel


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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (88 titles)
2009 The People I've Slept With
Charles Yang
 
2005 Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV series)
Old Wanderer
– The Spirit World: Winter Solstice, Part 1 (2005) … Old Wanderer (voice)
 
2004 Threat Matrix (TV series)
Kang Sok-Joo
– PPX (2004) … Kang Sok-Joo
 
2002 A Ribbon of Dreams
Jimmy Chan
 
2000/I Brother
Sugimoto
 
1999 Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV series)
Ben Sosna
– Nine Yolks Whipped Lightly (1999) … Ben Sosna
– The Loo-Ouch (1999) … Ben Sosna
– Slipping Away (1999) … Ben Sosna
 
1998 Mulan
General Li (voice)
 
1997 Drive
Mr. Lau
 
1997 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (TV series)
Inspector Mantjur / Japanese Prime Minister / Mr. Yamashiro
– Night of the Zinja (1997) … Mr. Yamashiro/Japanese Prime Minister (voice)
– Diamonds and Jade (1997) … Inspector Mantjur (voice)
 
1997 Space Marines
Ambassador Nakamura
 
1996 Cybill (TV series)
Mr. Matsuzaki
– Cybill and Maryann Go to Japan (1996) … Mr. Matsuzaki
 
1995 Midnight Man
Mao Mak
 
1994 Cage II
Tin Lum Yin
 
1994 Babylon 5 (TV series)
Taro Isogi
– Spider in the Web (1994) … Taro Isogi
 
1993-1994 Renegade (TV series)
Hideo Maruyama / Mr. Ota
– Black Wind (1994) … Hideo Maruyama
– Samurai (1993) … Mr. Ota
 
1994 Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die (TV movie)
Det. Whoo
 
1994 SeaQuest 2032 (TV series)
Vietnamese President Chi
– The Last Lap at Luxury (1994) … Vietnamese President Chi
– Better Than Martians (1994) … Vietnamese President Chi
 
1987-1992 Murder, She Wrote (TV series)
John Sukahara / Luc Lee
– Sugar & Spice, Malice & Vice (1992) … Luc Lee
– The Corpse Flew First Class (1987) … John Sukahara
 
1990 China Cry: A True Story
Dr. Sung
 
1989 Dragnet (TV series)
Mr. Minn
– The Payback (1989) … Mr. Minn
 
1989 Jake and the Fatman (TV series)
– The Way You Look Tonight (1989)
 
1989 A Peaceable Kingdom (TV series)
Dr Okawa
– Snake Bite (1989) … Dr Okawa
 
1989 Cage
Tin Lum Yin
 
1989 Mission: Impossible (TV series)
Ki
– The Lions (1989) … Ki
 
1988 Die Hard
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
 
1984-1988 Simon & Simon (TV series)
Chen / Daniel Yoshiro / Musashi Sato
– Tale of the Tiger (1988) … Chen
– Opposites Attack (1987) … Musashi Sato
– Revolution #9-1/2 (1984) … Daniel Yoshiro
 
1987 The Hitchhiker (TV series)
Nishi
– Perfect Order (1987) … Nishi
 
1983-1986 Magnum, P.I. (TV series)
Dr. Richard Enoka / Mr. Obotu
– Paper War (1986) … Mr. Obotu
– Forty Years from Sand Island (1983) … Dr. Richard Enoka
 
1986 The Family Martinez (TV movie)
Judge Yamamoto
 
1985 Airwolf (TV series)
Colonel Tranh Van Zung
– The American Dream (1985) … Colonel Tranh Van Zung
 
1984 Matt Houston (TV series)
Lin Ha
– Blood Money (1984) … Lin Ha
 
1983 Masquerade (TV series)
Makko
– Girls for Sale (1983) … Makko
 
1983 The Love Boat (TV series)
Bud's Father
– When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune: Part 1 (1983) … Bud's Father (credit only)
– When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune: Part 2 (1983) … Bud's Father
 
1983 T.J. Hooker (TV series)
Chow Duc Khan
– Chinatown (1983) … Chow Duc Khan
 
1982 The Renegades (TV movie)
Jimmy Lee
 
1982 Strike Force (TV series)
– Chinatown (1982)
 
1982 Tomorrow's Child (TV movie)
Donald Shibura
 
1982 The Greatest American Hero (TV series)
Colonel Shawn Liang
– The Hand-Painted Thai (1982) … Colonel Shawn Liang
 
1980 Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb (TV movie)
Field Marshall Abehata
 
1979 Samurai (TV movie)
Takeo Chisato
 
1979 Fantasy Island (TV series)
General Lin Sun
– Spending Spree/The Hunted (1979) … General Lin Sun
 
1978 The Rockford Files (TV series)
Clement Chin
– Heartaches of a Fool (1978) … Clement Chin
 
1978 Police Woman (TV series)
Bernie Kim
– The Human Rights of Tiki Kim (1978) … Bernie Kim
 
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV series)
Kapala
– Wipe-Out (1977) … Kapala
 
1977 Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Sam Wing
– To Live with Fear: Part 2 (1977) … Sam Wing
 
1976 Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers (TV mini-series)
Wizard Wong
 
1976 Once an Eagle (TV mini-series)
Lin Tso-Han
 
1976 The Streets of San Francisco (TV series)
Prosecutor
– The Thrill Killers: Part 2 (1976) … Prosecutor
– The Thrill Killers: Part 1 (1976) … Prosecutor
 
1976 Midway
Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
 
1976 The Killer Who Wouldn't Die (TV movie)
David Lao
 
1976 S.W.A.T. (TV series)
Lieutenant Eddie Chew
– The Chinese Connection (1976) … Lieutenant Eddie Chew
 
1976 Ellery Queen (TV series)
Stephen Yang
– The Adventure of the Judas Tree (1976) … Stephen Yang
 
1975 Matt Helm (TV series)
Tom McCauley
– Matt Helm (1975) … Tom McCauley
 
1975 Khan! (TV series)
– Triad (1975)
 
1974-1975 Kung Fu (TV series)
Col. Lin Pei / Master Kwan Li
– The Forbidden Kingdom (1975) … Col. Lin Pei
– The Garments of Rage (1974) … Master Kwan Li
 
1974 The Yakuza
Goro
 
1974 Emergency! (TV series)
Nathan O'Brien
– Foreign Trade (1974) … Nathan O'Brien
 
1974 The Questor Tapes (TV movie)
Dr. Chen
 
1973 Lost Horizon
Brother To-Lenn
 
1969-1972 Medical Center (TV series)
Dr. Osaka / Resident Doctor / Chief Resident / …
– Conflict (1972) … Doctor Osaka
– Confession (1972) … Resident Doctor
– Deadly Encounter (1970) … Dr. Osaka
– Brink of Doom (1970) … Dr. Osaka
– The V.D. Story (1970) … Dr. Osaka
See all 8 episodes »
 
1969-1971 Ironside (TV series)
Il Pak Soong / Toshio Watari
– No Motive for Murder (1971) … Toshio Watari
– Love My Enemy (1969) … Il Pak Soong
 
1970 Mission: Impossible (TV series)
Shiki
– Butterfly (1970) … Shiki
 
1969 The Young Lawyers (TV series)
– Pilot (1969)
 
1968 Hawaii Five-O (TV series)
Joseph Matsukino
– Deathwatch (1968) … Joseph Matsukino
 
1968 Escape to Mindanao (TV movie)
Lt. Takahashi
 
1968 It Takes a Thief (TV series)
Fong Sing
– When Good Friends Get Together (1968) … Fong Sing
 
1968 Nobody's Perfect
Diver Toshi O'Hara
 
1968 Manila, Open City
 
1967 The Mystery of the Chinese Junk
George Ti Ming
 
1966 Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Danny Kohana
 
1966 Tre pistole contro Cesare
Lester Kato
 
1965 I Spy (TV series)
Tommy
– Three Hours on a Sunday Night (1965) … Tommy
 
1964-1965 Ben Casey (TV series)
Dr. Harvey Lee / Father Michael Hsueh
– No More, Cried the Rooster - There Will Be Truth (1965) … Dr. Harvey Lee
– The Evidence of Things Not Seen (1964) … Father Michael Hsueh
 
1965 Perry Mason (TV series)
Ward Toyama
– The Case of the Wrongful Writ (1965) … Ward Toyama
 
1965 The Bing Crosby Show (TV series)
Joe
– That's the Way the Suki Yakies (1965) … Joe
 
1964 Carol for Another Christmas (TV movie)
The Doctor
 
1963-1964 The Outer Limits (TV series)
AIO Capt. Newa / Major Jong
– The Inheritors: Part 1 (1964) … AIO Capt. Newa
– Nightmare (1963) … Major Jong
 
1964 The Lieutenant (TV series)
Captain Myang Lee
– To Kill a Man (1964) … Captain Myang Lee
 
1964 Burke's Law (TV series)
Sidney Ying
– Who Killed the Paper Dragon? (1964) … Sidney Ying
 
1963 Dr. Kildare (TV series)
Dr. Roy Shigera
– One Clear, Bright Thursday Morning (1963) … Dr. Roy Shigera
 
1962 Naked City (TV series)
James Kam
– The Contract (1962) … James Kam
 
1961 Playdate (TV series)
Major Ri
– The Cell 5 Experience (1961) … Major Ri
 
1961 Flower Drum Song
Wang Ta
 
1961 Alcoa Premiere (TV series)
Captain
– The Fortress (1961) … Captain
 
1961 Bridge to the Sun
Hidenari Terasaki
 
1961 Cry for Happy
Suzuki
 
1960 Walk Like a Dragon
Cheng Lu
 
1959 The Crimson Kimono
Det. Joe Kojaku
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
1973 Lost Horizon (performer: "LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER")
 
1961 Flower Drum Song (performer: "Chop Suey", "You Are Beautiful", "Gliding Through My Memoree Reprise")
 
Show ShowSelf (12 titles)
2009 Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's (video documentary)
Himself
 
2008 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2007 Hollywood Chinese (documentary)
Himself
 
2006 Faces of the East: Casting Flower Drum Song (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2006 The Slanted Screen (documentary)
Himself
 
2006 2006 Asian Excellence Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter
 
1988 Slaying the Dragon (TV documentary)
Himself (actor) (also archive footage)
 
1985 Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of American Music (TV documentary)
Himself (also archive footage)
 
1967 Dateline: Hollywood (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 7 August 1967 (1967) … Himself
 
1967 Dream Girl of '67 (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 13 March 1967 (1967) … Himself
 
1964 That Regis Philbin Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.5 (1964) … Himself
 
1959 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.18 (1959) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (1 title)
2001 The Making of 'Midway' (video documentary short)
Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
 

Related Videos

Renegade: Season 1: Episode 14 -- On a bounty hunt, Reno interferes with a war between two powerful yakuza and witnesses henchmen kidnap a leader's teenage daughter. The People I've Slept With -- "I Like Boys" (Official Version) by the Fabulous Miss Wendy is a hot track featured in the upcoming sex comedy THE PEOPLE I'VE SLEPT WITH, starring Karin Anna Cheung, Wilson Cruz, Archie Kao, Lynn Chen, and James Shigeta, with Rane Jameson, Dana Lee, Randall Park, Cathy Shim, Elizabeth Sung, Danny Vazquez, and Chris Zylka. music: http://www.thefabulousmisswendy.com movie: http://www.thepeopleivesleptwith.com Drive -- Open-ended Trailer from Ardustry
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Personal Details

Height:

5' 9½" (1.77 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I think an actor's life is necessarily self-involved. And that's what I would like to get away from. See more »

Trivia:

Discovered as a singer by TV's "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour" where he won first place and an annual scholarship prize. This led to Vegas and nightclub appearances. Pat Boone and Ann-Margret are other celebrities who benefited from Ted Mack's popular show. See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini