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James Shigeta

James Shigeta

Actor · 1929–2014 · Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

IMDb

Biography

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.

Acted in 78

2020s

  1. 2022

    Yorktown: A Time to Heal

    Admiral Heilachiro Nogura

1980s

  1. 1989

    Cage

    Tin Lum Yin

  2. 1988

    Slaying the Dragon

    Movie

  3. Die Hard

    Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi

    82
  4. 1987

    Jake and the Fatman

    Mr. Koso Nakasone · 1 episode

    63
  5. 1984

    Murder, She Wrote

    John Sukahara, Luc Li · 1 episode

    74

  6. Airwolf

    Colonel Tranh Van Zung · 1 episode

    70
  7. 1983

    Masquerade

    Makko · 1 episode

  8. The Hitchhiker

    Nishi · 1 episode

    66
  9. 1982

    Matt Houston

    Lin Ha · 1 episode

    64

  10. The Renegades

    Jimmy Lee

  11. Tomorrow's Child

    Donald Shibura

  12. T. J. Hooker

    Chow Duc Khan · 1 episode

    62
  13. 1981

    Simon & Simon

    TV · 8 Seasons · Drama

    70
  14. 1980

    Magnum, P.I.

    Richard Enoka, Mr. Obotu · 1 episode

    74

  15. Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb

    Field Marshal Abehata

1960s

  1. 1969

    The Young Lawyers

    Lee Ahn

  2. Medical Center

    Dr. Osaka · 2 episodes

    69

  3. Hawaii Five-O

    Joseph Matsukino · 1 episode

    73

  4. Operation Heartbeat

    Chief Resident

  5. 1968

    Escape to Mindanao

    Lt. Takahashi

  6. Manila, Open City

    Captain Murakami

  7. Nobody's Perfect

    Diver Toshi O'Hara

  8. 1967

    Ironside

    TV · 8 Seasons · Crime · Drama

    69

  9. Death Walks in Laredo

    Lester Koto

  10. 1966

    Mission: Impossible

    Shiki · 1 episode

    78

  11. Paradise, Hawaiian Style

    Danny Kohana

    54
  12. 1964

    Carol for Another Christmas

    Japanese Doctor

    64

  13. The Bing Crosby Show

    TV

  14. 1963

    Burke's Law

    Sidney Ying · 1 episode

    71

  15. The Outer Limits

    Maj. Jong, AIO Captain Newa · 1 episode

    80

  16. The Lieutenant

    TV · 1 Season · Drama

  17. 1961

    Flower Drum Song

    Wang Ta

    70

  18. Bridge to the Sun

    Hidenari Terasaki

  19. Ben Casey

    Dr. Harvey Lee · 1 episode

    68

  20. Dr. Kildare

    Dr. Roy Shigera · 1 episode

    66

  21. Kraft Mystery Theatre

    TV · 3 Seasons · Drama · Mystery

  22. Cry for Happy

    Suzuki

  23. 1960

    Walk Like a Dragon

    Cheng Lu

1950s

  1. 1959

    The Crimson Kimono

    Detective Joe Kojaku

  2. 1958

    Naked City

    James Kam · 1 episode

    75
  3. 1957

    Perry Mason

    Ward Toyama · 1 episode

    81
Appearances5

2020s

  1. 2025

    Beam Me Up, Sulu

    Self

2000s

  1. 2007

    Hollywood Chinese

    Self

  2. 2006

    The Slanted Screen

    Himself