Toshirō Mifune
Acting
Born: April 1, 1920 · Qingdao, China
Died: December 24, 1997 (aged 77)
Highest Rated
Biography
Toshirō Mifune (April 1, 1920 - December 24, 1997) was a Japanese actor who is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema. He was born in Qingdao, China, but was raised in Japan. Mifune's career spanned over 50 years, during which he collaborated extensively with renowned director Akira Kurosawa, creating some of the most iconic films in Japanese cinema. Mifune gained international recognition for his performances in Kurosawa's films, particularly in samurai films. He portrayed strong, dynamic, and often rebellious characters, bringing a raw intensity to his roles. Some of his notable collaborations with Kurosawa include "Rashomon" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), which inspired George Lucas's "Star Wars." Apart from his work with Kurosawa, Mifune appeared in numerous other films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He played roles in various genres, including dramas, comedies, and war films. Some of his other notable films include "The Throne of Blood" (1957), "High and Low" (1963), and "Red Beard" (1965). Mifune's charismatic presence, powerful performances, and ability to convey complex emotions made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He received international recognition and awards for his contributions to the film industry, including several honors at the Venice Film Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Known for
Seven Samurai
1954
Rashomon
1950
Yojimbo
1961
High and Low
1963
Throne of Blood
1957
Sanjuro
1962
The Hidden Fortress
1958
1941
1979
Red Beard
1965
Stray Dog
1949
Midway
1976
Red Sun
1971
Photos (12)
Movies (163)
Seven Samurai
Kikuchiyo
Rashomon
Tajômaru
High and Low
Kingo Gondo
Throne of Blood
Taketoki Washizu
Yojimbo
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
1941
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Midway
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Red Sun
Kuroda Jubei
Sanjuro
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
Red Beard
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Grand Prix
Izō Yamura
The Hidden Fortress
General Rokurota Makabe
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
Shogun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Snow Trail
Eijima
The Sword of Doom
Toranosuke Shimada
Samurai Rebellion
Isaburo Sasahara
Drunken Angel
Matsunaga
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Chûshingura
Genba Tawaraboshi
Stray Dog
Det. Murakami
The Bushido Blade
Shogun's Commander
The Bad Sleep Well
Kôichi Nishi
The Life of Oharu
Katsunosuke
Samurai Assassin
Tsuruchiyo Niiro
The Lower Depths
Sutekichi the Thief
Hell in the Pacific
Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
The Important Man
Ánimas Trujano
Proof of the Man
Yohei Kori
Battle of the Japan Sea
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Winter Kills
Keith
Inchon
Saito-San
I Live in Fear
Kiichi Nakajima
The Challenge
Toru Yoshida
Scandal
Ichirô Aoye
Shadow of the Wolf
Kroomak
Japan's Longest Day
War Minister General Korechika Anami
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Port Arthur
Emperor Meiji
Foghorn
Chiyokichi
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Tora-san Goes North
Junkichi Ueno
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Yojimbo/Sasa
The Idiot
Denkichi Akama
The Walking Major
Kinugasa Tadao
Rise Against the Sword
Abare Gōemon
The Ambitious
Shojiro Goto
The Fall of Ako Castle
Tsuchiya Michinao
The Three Treasures
Prince Yamato Takeru
The Quiet Duel
Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
Swift Current
Shunsuke Kosugi
The Demon Comes in Spring
Kukkune no jî
Journey of Honor
Ieyasu Tokugawa
Princess from the Moon
Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
The Storm of the Pacific
Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Picture Bride
The Benshi
Samurai Banners
Kansuke Yamamoto
Shogun's Samurai
Yoshinao Tokugawa
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Mizuno
Attack Squadron
Lt. Colonel Senda
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
1952
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
1982
The Eagle of the Pacific
1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
The Big Boss
Kashimura
The Rickshaw Man
Matsugorō Tomishima
The Militarists
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Last Embrace
Shinkichi / Hayakawa
Sasaki Kojiro
Miyamoto Musashi
Theater Of Life
Hyōtarō Aonari
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Kosuke Oishi
Strawberry Road
Taoka
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Sanjuro Hinoki
Samurai Saga
Heihachiro Komaki
The Retreat from Kiska
Omura
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Battle Anthem
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
The Man Who Came to Port
Gorō Niinuma
The Last Gunfight
Detective Saburo Fujioka
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Kosuke Oishi
Desperado Outpost
Battalion Commander
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
Kyūbei Matsufuji
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Zhang Zhizhang
Tokyo Sweetheart
Kurokawa
Wedding Ring
Takeshi Ema
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Tamon Umei
Red Lion
Gonzo
A Man in the Storm
Saburō Watari
Scoundrel
Kanji
No More God, No More Love
Kōzō Kanzaki
Daredevil in the Castle
Mohei
Vendetta of a Samurai
Mataemon Araki
Samurai Pirate
Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
The Masterless 47 – Part II
1961
Fort Graveyard
Sergeant Kosugi
Paper Tiger
Ambassador Kagoyama
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Tamon Umei
The Shatterer
Murai
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Isami Kondo
The Sands of Kurobe
Kitagawa
The Masterless 47
Kazuo Momoi
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Osami
These Foolish Times
Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
A Dangerous Hero
Kawada
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Shūsai Kondō
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Kenji Kawakami
Pirates
Tora
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
Fisherman
Whirlwind
Lord Akashi
All is Well
Daikichi Risshun
Man Against Man
Kaji
The Women of Osaka Castle
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Death of a Tea Master
Rikyu Sen-no
Rebels on the High Sea
Matsuo Tokuzō
Legacy of the 500,000
Takeichi Matsuo
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Sanjuro Hinoki
The Underworld
Chief Inspector Kumada
Sunflower Girl
Ippei Hitachi
Holiday in Tokyo
Tenkai's nephew Jirō
Love and Faith
Taiko Hideyoshi
Sanshiro Sugata
Shogoro Yano
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Tasaburō Kasumi
Tatsu
Tatsu
The Mad Atlantic
Heihachirô Murakami
Deep River
Tsukada
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Sadanobu Matsudaira
No Time for Tears
Mitsuo Yano
Saga of the Vagabonds
Rokuro Kai
A Wife's Heart
Kenkichi
Rainy Night Duel
Masahiko Koseki
The Youth and His Amulet
Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
Safari 5000
Yūichirō Takase
Downtown
Yoshio Tsuruishi
Incident at Blood Pass
Yojimbo
Domineering
Masao Tadokoro
A Man Among Men
"Buick" Maki
Sword for Hire
Sasa Hayatenosuke
Lowly Ronin
Sanjuro Hinoki
The Life of a Horse Trader
Yonetaro Katayama
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Teisaku Nagasawa
The Black Fury
Eiichi Tsuda
Elegy
Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
All About Marriage
Acting teacher
Shag
Captain Takeo Murata
The Gambling Samurai
Kunisada Chuji
Escape from Prison
Shinkichi
Beyond Love and Hate
Gorō Sakata
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Matsumura
All is Well 2
Daikichi Risshun
Good Luck to These Two
Toshio Maruyama
Settlement of Love
Shuntarō Ōhira
The Retired Samurai
Hikozaemon Ōkubo
cf Girl
Shūichirō Hase
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Nagao Tamekage
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
1983
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Tasaburo
Lord Mito
Sakuzaemon Okumura
Jakoman and Tetsu
Tetsu
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
Theater of Life
1958
The Surf
Skipper of the Utashima-maru
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Toshinoshin Taya
TV Shows (9)
Shōgun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga · 5 eps
Epic Chushingura
Oishi Kuranosuke · 52 eps
Tuesday Suspense Theater
1 eps
Burning Mountain River
Otsuichi Amo · 51 eps
Falcons of Edo
Kanbei Uchiyama · 38 eps
Ronin of the Wastelands
Kujuro Toge · 13 eps
The Brave Man Says Little
4 eps
Sekigahara
Sakon Shima · 3 eps
Ronin in a Lawless Town
Mr. Danna · 11 eps
Self / Appearances (3)
Directing (1)
Producing (13)
Samurai Rebellion
Producer
Ronin of the Wastelands
Associate Producer
Samurai Banners
Producer
Red Lion
Producer
Fort Graveyard
Associate Producer
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Producer
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Associate Producer
Legacy of the 500,000
Associate Producer
The Mad Atlantic
Executive Producer
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Associate Producer
Incident at Blood Pass
Producer
Shag
Executive Producer
Morning for Two
Producer