Mako Biography (1933-)

Full name, Makoto Iwamatsu; born December 10, 1933, in Kobe, Japan; immigrated to the United States, 1949; naturalized citizen, 1956; married Shizuko Hoshi (a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher, and actress); children: two daughters. Addresses: Agent: Amsel, Eisenstadt & Frazier, 5757 WilshireBlvd., Suite 510, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Nationality
Japanese
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, director, playwright
Birth Details
December 10, 1933
Kobe, Japan

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Po-Han, The Sand Pebbles, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966
  • Kenji, The Ugly Dachshund, Buena Vista, 1966
  • Calvin Coolidge Ishimura, The Private Navy of Sergeant O'Farrell,United Artists, 1968
  • Secret Service Agent Eliot Fong, The Great Bank Robbery, Warner Bros., 1969
  • Psychiatrist, Fools, Cinerama, 1970
  • Mun Ki, The Hawaiians (also known as Master of the Islands), United Artists, 1970
  • (As Mako Iwamatsu) Chinmoku (also known as Silence), 1972
  • Oomiak, The Island at the Top of the World, Buena Vista, 1974
  • Yuen Chung, The Killer Elite, United Artists, 1975
  • Sergeant Nguyen, Prisoners, 1975
  • Enjiro, The Bushido Blade (also known as The Bloody Bushido Blade), Trident, 1979
  • Herbert, The Big Brawl (also known as Battle Creek, Battle Creek Brawl, and Sha shou hao), Warner Bros., 1980
  • James Chan, An Eye for an Eye, Avco-Embassy, 1981
  • Nakamura, Under the Rainbow, Orion/Warner Bros., 1981
  • Akiro the Wizard, Conan the Barbarian, Universal, 1982
  • Mike, Testament, Paramount, 1983
  • Akiro the Wizard, Conan the Destroyer, Universal, 1984
  • Akira Tanaka, Armed Response (also known as Jade Jungle), CineTel, 1986
  • Captain Vinh, P.O.W.: The Escape (also known as Behind Enemy Lines), Cannon, 1986
  • Nobu Matsumoto, The Wash, Skouras, 1988
  • Dyama, Silent Assassins, Action Brothers, 1988
  • Jimmy Sakuyama, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Paramount, 1988
  • Max Chin, An Unremarkable Life, CFG, 1989
  • Sakamoto, Taking Care of Business (also known as Filofax),Buena Vista, 1990
  • Toshio Watanabe, Pacific Heights, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1990
  • Trang, Fatal Mission (also known as Enemy), Media Home Entertainment, 1990
  • Kim, The Perfect Weapon, Paramount, 1991
  • Strawberry Road (also known as Sutoberi Road), 1991
  • Narrator, Nightingale, 1992
  • Mr. Lee, Sidekicks, Triumph Releasing, 1993
  • Kanemitsu, Robocop 3, Orion, 1993
  • Mr. Tszing, My Samurai, Imperial Entertainment, 1993
  • Katsu, Cultivating Charlie, 1993
  • Yoshida-San, Rising Sun, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993
  • No Surrender, 1993
  • Nakano, Highlander: The Final Dimension (also known as Highlander III: The Sorcerer, Highlander 3: The Final Conflict, Highlander III, Highlander: The Magician, and Highlander III: The Magician), Dimension Films, 1994
  • Buun Som, Midnight Man (also known as Blood for Blood), 1994
  • Sensei, A Dangerous Place, PM Home Video, 1995
  • Shudo Shmizaki, Crying Freeman, Warner Bros., 1995
  • Mr. Young, Sworn to Justice (also known as Blonde Justice),Maslak/Friedenn Films, 1996
  • Matsumoto, Balance of Power, Live Entertainment, 1996
  • Kungo Tsarong, Seven Years in Tibet, Sony Pictures Entertainment,1997
  • The Sea Wolf, Concorde, 1997
  • Shen, Chugoku no chojin (also known as The Bird People in China), 1998
  • Old Momo, Alegia, 1998
  • (As Mako Iwamatsu) Police, Kyohansha, 1999
  • Mr. Hiro, Talk to Taka, AtomFilms, 2000
  • Voice of Mr. Yamaguchi, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie--Rugrats II (animated; also known as Rugrats in Paris--Der Film and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie), Paramount, 2000
  • (In archive footage) Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (also known asA Warrior's Journey), Warner Bros., 2000
  • Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto, Pearl Harbor (also known as Pearl Harbour), Buena Vista, 2001
  • Straw Hat, She Said I Love You (also known as Cruel Game and Deception), 2001
  • Mr. Kojima, Bulletproof Monk, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2003
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Major Taro Oshira, Hawaiian Heat, ABC, 1984
  • Main title narrator, Dexter's Laboratory (also known as Dexter's Lab and Dexter de Shiyanshi; animated), Cartoon Network, 1996-
  • Voice of Aku, Samurai Jack (animated), Cartoon Network, 2001-
  • Master Li, Black Sash, The WB, 2003
  • Movies
  • Yuro, The Challenge, ABC, 1970
  • Tadashi, If Tomorrow Comes (also known as The Glass Hammer), ABC, 1971
  • Fukimoto, Farewell to Manzanar, NBC, 1976
  • Kanji Ousu, Columbo: Murder under Glass, 1977
  • Major Bai, When Hell Was in Session, NBC, 1979
  • Mori, Girls of the White Orchid (also known as Death Ride to Osaka), NBC, 1983
  • The Manchu, Kung Fu: The Movie, CBS, 1986
  • Captain Kilalo, Murder in Paradise, NBC, 1990
  • Sergeant Moritaki, Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes, NBC, 1990
  • Buntoro Iga, Red Sun Rising, HBO, 1994
  • Mr. Lee, "Gold Mountain," Riot (also known as Riot in the Streets), Showtime, 1997
  • Pilots
  • Kenji, The Streets of San Francisco, ABC, 1972
  • Tao Gan, Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders (also known as TheHaunted Monastery), ABC, 1974
  • Mataro Sakura, The Last Ninja, ABC, 1983
  • Major Taro Oshira, Hawaiian Heat, ABC, 1984
  • Specials
  • Ben Chang, The Last Ferry Home, syndicated, 1992
  • Episodic
  • The Japanese sentry, "Movies Are Your Best Diversion," McHale's Navy, 1962
  • First Japanese, "The Captain's Mission," McHale's Navy, 1963
  • Frank Fakuda, "One Puka Puka," The Gallant Men, 1963
  • Captain Uzaki, "One Enchanted Weekend," McHale's Navy, 1963
  • Lieutenant Yamasake, "McHale and His Schweinhunds," McHale's Navy,1963
  • First Japanese soldier, "Have Kimono, Will Travel," McHale's Navy,1963
  • Third Japanese soldier, "A Letter for Fuji," McHale's Navy, 1963
  • Sessua, "The Balloon Goes Up," McHale's Navy, 1964
  • Pete, "Who Killed April?," Burke's Law, 1964
  • Kato, "Jeannie and the Marriage Caper," I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1965
  • Jimmy, "No Exchange on Damaged Merchandise," I Spy, NBC, 1965
  • Jimmy, "The Loser," I Spy, 1965
  • Happy Tuava, "The Prisoners of Mr. Sin," Burke's Law, 1965
  • Casey, "The War Between Men, Women and Gidget," Gidget, 1965
  • Baby Face, "Court of the Lion," I Spy, 1966
  • Low Sing, "The Preying Mantis," The Green Hornet, 1966
  • "From Karate with Love," F Troop, ABC, 1967
  • Lieutenant Nakamura, "Kill Two by Two," The Time Tunnel, ABC, 1967
  • Simba, "Alfred of the Amazon," Vacation Playhouse, 1967
  • Wong Lo, "Rimfire," The Big Valley, ABC, 1968
  • Yoshimura, "Southwind," The F.B.I., ABC, 1968
  • Wong Ti Lu, "The Tide," Kung Fu, ABC, 1973
  • "Love and the Fortune Cookie," Love, American Style, 1973
  • Dr. Lin Tam, "Rainbow Bridge," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1974
  • "Enter Tami Okada," Mannix, CBS, 1974
  • Kazuo Tahashi, "Legacy of Terror," Hawaii Five-O, ABC, 1976
  • Major Choi, ROK surgeon, "Hawkeye Get Your Gun," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1976
  • Masu Murakami, "Gold Watch," Visions, 1976
  • Mr. Yamaguchi, "Touch of Death," Quincy, 1977
  • Li Sung, "Another Path," The Incredible Hulk, CBS, 1978
  • Li Sung, "The Disciple," The Incredible Hulk, CBS, 1979
  • Mr. Brown, "Going, Going, Gone," Wonder Woman, CBS, 1979
  • Lieutenant Hung Lee Park, "Guerilla My Dreams," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1979
  • Kirby, "Pirouette," Supertrain, 1979
  • North Korean soldier, "The Best of Enemies," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980
  • Tozan, "The Arrow That Is Not Aimed," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1982
  • "The Pied Piper," Bring 'Em Back Alive, CBS, 1982
  • Mr. Wakamatsu, "The Americanization of Miko," The Facts of Life, 1982
  • "The Travels of Marco ... and Friends," Voyagers!, 1982
  • John Moroshima, "Sword of Honor, Blade of Death," Quincy, 1982
  • Master of Flowers, "Thirty Seconds over Little Tokyo," The Greatest American Hero, ABC, 1983
  • Lin, "Recipe for Heavy Bread," The A-Team, NBC, 1983
  • Inspector Toshi, Ohara, ABC, 1987
  • Tommy Nguyen, "My Brother's Keeper," Spenser: For Hire, ABC, 1987
  • Trahn, "Sitting Duck," Tour of Duty, CBS, 1987
  • Thanarat, "Riding the Elephant," The Equalizer, CBS, 1988
  • Yo Tin, Supercarrier, ABC, 1988
  • Kao, "Dangerous Cargo," Paradise, CBS, 1990
  • "The Wash," American Playhouse, PBS, 1990
  • Toshiro Tanaka, "Black Virgin of Vladimir," Lovejoy, 1991
  • Toshiro Tanaka, "Riding in Rollers," Lovejoy, 1991
  • Li Sung, "Tournament," Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, syndicated,1994
  • Sam Tanaka, "Author, Author," Frasier, NBC, 1994
  • Mr. Loo, "Dying to Live," Platypus Man, UPN, 1995
  • Dr. Henry Lee, "Heart of the Dragon," Walker, Texas Ranger, CBS, 1997
  • Ichiro Higashimori, "Innocence," JAG, CBS, 1998
  • Master Reng, "Requiem," Martial Law, CBS, 1999
  • Master Reng, "Red Storm," Martial Law, CBS, 1999
  • Henry Muranaka, "Dirty Laundry," 7th Heaven, The WB, 1999
  • Edward Song, "Black Dragons," Walker, Texas Ranger, CBS, 2000
  • Kajimori, "The Inquisitor," The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne,CBS, 2000
  • Lee Moy, "The Red's Shoes," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 2001
  • Also appeared as interviewee, "The Sand Pebbles," History vs. Hollywood, History Channel; Makumura, Shaky Ground, Fox; Mr. Li, Lost at Home, ABC; in Ironside, NBC; Ensign O'Toole; 77 SunsetStrip.
  • Stage Appearances
  • Taki, A Banquet for the Moon, Theatre Marquee, New York City, 1961
  • Pacific Overtures, East/West Players, Los Angeles, 1967-1968
  • Hokusai Sketchbooks, East/West Players, 1967-1968
  • Gold Watch, Inner City Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles, 1972
  • (Broadway debut) The Reciter, Shogun, and Jonathan Goble, Pacific Overtures, Winter Garden Theatre, 1976
  • Station J, East/West Players, 1981
  • Sam Shikaze, Yellow Fever, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, 47th Street Theatre, New York City, 1983
  • Nobu, The Wash, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1985
  • Shimada/Toshio Uchiyama, Shimada, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1992
  • Stage Director
  • (With Shizuko Hoshi) The Fisher King, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles, 1976
  • The Music Lessons, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre,New York City, 1980
  • F.O.B. (Fresh Off the Boat), New York Shakespeare Festival, PublicTheatre, 1980
  • WRITINGS
  • Plays
  • There's No Place Like a Tired Ghost, produced at Inner City Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles, 1972
  • (With Dom Magwili) Christmas in Camp, produced by East/West Players, Los Angeles, 1981

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Notable Asian Americans, Gale Research, 1995

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