Skip to content
Join free
James Shigeta
Actor

James Shigeta

17 Jun 1929Born
28 Jul 2014Died
85Age at death
81Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 81 credits.

  1. 2022Yorktown: A Time to HealFilm: Admiral Heilachiro Nogura
  2. 2019Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in HollywoodFilm: (archive footage)
  3. 2010The People I've Slept WithFilm: Charles Yang
  4. 2005Avatar: The Last AirbenderSeries: Old Wanderer (voice) (1 episode)
  5. 2003Threat MatrixSeries: Kang Sok-Joo (1 episode)
  6. 2000BrotherFilm: Sugimoto
  7. 1999Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st CenturyFilm: Narrator
  8. 1998MulanFilm: General Li (voice)
  9. 1997DriveFilm: Mr. Lau
  10. 1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestSeries: Inspector Mantjur (voice), Dr. Yamashiro (voice) (1 episode)
  11. 1996Space MarinesFilm: Ambassador Nakamura
  12. 1995Midnight ManFilm: Mao Mak
  13. 1995CybillSeries: Mr. Matsuzaki (1 episode)
  14. 1994Cage II: The Arena of DeathFilm: Tin Lum Yin
  15. 1994Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never DieFilm: Det. Whoo
  16. 1994Babylon 5Series: Taro Isogi (1 episode)
  17. 1993seaQuest DSVSeries: Vietnamese President Chi (2 episodes)
  18. 1992RenegadeSeries: Mr. Ota (1 episode)
  19. 1990China CryFilm: Dr. Sung
  20. 1990Beverly Hills, 90210Series: Ben Sosna (3 episodes)
  21. 1990Home from the Eastern SeaFilm: Narrator
  22. 1989CageFilm: Tin Lum Yin
  23. 1988Slaying the DragonFilm
  24. 1988Die HardFilm: Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
  25. 1987Jake and the FatmanSeries: Mr. Koso Nakasone (1 episode)
  26. 1984Murder, She WroteSeries: John Sukahara, Luc Li (1 episode)
  27. 1984AirwolfSeries: Colonel Tranh Van Zung (1 episode)
  28. 1983MasqueradeSeries: Makko (1 episode)
  29. 1983The HitchhikerSeries: Nishi (1 episode)
  30. 1982Matt HoustonSeries: Lin Ha (1 episode)
  31. 1982The RenegadesFilm: Jimmy Lee
  32. 1982Tomorrow's ChildFilm: Donald Shibura
  33. 1982T. J. HookerSeries: Chow Duc Khan (1 episode)
  34. 1981Simon & SimonSeries (3 episodes)
  35. 1980Magnum, P.I.Series: Richard Enoka, Mr. Obotu (1 episode)
  36. 1980Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic BombFilm: Field Marshal Abehata
  37. 1979SamuraiFilm: Takeo Chisato
  38. 1977The Love BoatSeries: Bud's Father (1 episode)
  39. 1977The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew MysteriesSeries (1 episode)
  40. 1976Once an EagleSeries: Lin Tso-Han (7 episodes)
  41. 1976MidwayFilm: Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
  42. 1976The Killer Who Wouldn't DieFilm: David Lao
  43. 1975Ellery QueenSeries: Stephen Yang (1 episode)
  44. 1975Matt HelmFilm: Tom McCauley
  45. 1975S.W.A.T.Series (1 episode)
  46. 1974The YakuzaFilm: Goro
  47. 1974Police WomanSeries (1 episode)
  48. 1974The Rockford FilesSeries: Clement Chin (1 episode)
  49. 1974Little House on the PrairieSeries: Sam Wing (1 episode)
  50. 1974The Questor TapesFilm: Dr. Chen
  51. 1973Lost HorizonFilm: Brother To-Lenn
  52. 1972Kung FuSeries: Master Kwan Li, Col. Lin Pei (1 episode)
  53. 1972The Streets of San FranciscoSeries: Prosecutor (1 episode)
  54. 1972Emergency!Series (1 episode)
  55. 1969The Young LawyersFilm: Lee Ahn
  56. 1969Medical CenterSeries: Dr. Osaka (2 episodes)
  57. 1969Hawaii Five-OSeries: Joseph Matsukino (1 episode)
  58. 1969Operation HeartbeatFilm: Chief Resident
  59. 1968Escape to MindanaoFilm: Lt. Takahashi
  60. 1968Manila, Open CityFilm: Captain Murakami
  61. 1968Nobody's PerfectFilm: Diver Toshi O'Hara
  62. 1967The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese JunkFilm: George Ti Ming
  63. 1967IronsideSeries (2 episodes)
  64. 1967Death Walks in LaredoFilm: Lester Koto
  65. 1966Mission: ImpossibleSeries: Shiki (1 episode)
  66. 1966Paradise, Hawaiian StyleFilm: Danny Kohana
  67. 1964Carol for Another ChristmasFilm: Japanese Doctor
  68. 1964The Bing Crosby ShowSeries (1 episode)
  69. 1963Burke's LawSeries: Sidney Ying (1 episode)
  70. 1963The Outer LimitsSeries: Maj. Jong, AIO Captain Newa (1 episode)
  71. 1963The LieutenantSeries (1 episode)
  72. 1961Flower Drum SongFilm: Wang Ta
  73. 1961Bridge to the SunFilm: Hidenari Terasaki
  74. 1961Ben CaseySeries: Dr. Harvey Lee (1 episode)
  75. 1961Dr. KildareSeries: Dr. Roy Shigera (1 episode)
  76. 1961Kraft Mystery TheatreSeries (1 episode)
  77. 1961Cry for HappyFilm: Suzuki
  78. 1960Walk Like a DragonFilm: Cheng Lu
  79. 1959The Crimson KimonoFilm: Detective Joe Kojaku
  80. 1958Naked CitySeries: James Kam (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.