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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