Site Revisions Underway Some Features May Not Work
Photo of Toshirō Mifune

Toshirō Mifune

Acting 77 (deceased) years old Qingdao, China ★ 2.5
Born: April 1, 1920
Died: December 24, 1997

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.

Filmography

Acting Credits (178)

Mifune: The Last Samurai
Mifune: The Last Samurai Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage) 2016
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (archive footage) 2012
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress' Self 2002
Picture Bride
Picture Bride The Benshi 1995
Deep River
Deep River Tsukada 1995
Shadow of the Wolf
Shadow of the Wolf Kroomak 1992
Journey of Honor
Journey of Honor Ieyasu Tokugawa 1991
Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road Taoka 1991
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode Nagao Tamekage 1990
Death of a Tea Master
Death of a Tea Master Rikyu Sen-no 1989
cf Girl
cf Girl Shūichirō Hase 1989
The Demon Comes in Spring
The Demon Comes in Spring Kukkune no jî 1989
Princess from the Moon
Princess from the Moon Taketori-no-Miyatsuko 1987
The Retired Samurai
The Retired Samurai Hikozaemon Ōkubo 1987
Tora-san Goes North
Tora-san Goes North Junkichi Ueno 1987
The Shatterer
The Shatterer Murai 1987
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai Kyūbei Matsufuji 1986
No More God, No More Love
No More God, No More Love Kōzō Kanzaki 1985
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel Fisherman 1984
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire Shūsai Kondō 1984
Burning Mountain River
Burning Mountain River Otsuichi Amo 1984
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
Secret of the Forbidden Valley 1983
The Women of Osaka Castle
The Women of Osaka Castle Tokugawa Ieyasu 1983
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô 1983
Battle Anthem
Battle Anthem Admiral Heihachiro Togo 1983
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô 1983
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell Sanjuro Hinoki 1983
The Brave Man Says Little
The Brave Man Says Little 1983
Theater Of Life
Theater Of Life Hyōtarō Aonari 1983
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood Sanjuro Hinoki 1982
Domineering
Domineering Masao Tadokoro 1982
The Challenge
The Challenge Toru Yoshida 1982
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn 1982
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2 Tamon Umei 1982
Lowly Ronin
Lowly Ronin Sanjuro Hinoki 1981
Tuesday Suspense Theater
Tuesday Suspense Theater 1981
The Bushido Blade
The Bushido Blade Shogun's Commander 1981
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1 Tamon Umei 1981
Inchon
Inchon Saito-San 1981
Sekigahara
Sekigahara Sakon Shima 1981
Shogun
Shogun Lord Yoshi Toranaga 1980
Shōgun
Shōgun Lord Yoshi Toranaga 1980
Port Arthur
Port Arthur Emperor Meiji 1980
1941
1941 Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura 1979
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police Sadanobu Matsudaira 1979
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye" 1979
Winter Kills
Winter Kills Keith 1979
The 47 Ronins of Ako
The 47 Ronins of Ako Tachibana Sakon 1979
Lord Mito
Lord Mito Sakuzaemon Okumura 1978
The Fall of Ako Castle
The Fall of Ako Castle Tsuchiya Michinao 1978
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion Kosuke Oishi 1978
Love and Faith
Love and Faith Taiko Hideyoshi 1978
Shag
Shag Captain Takeo Murata 1978
Shogun's Samurai
Shogun's Samurai Yoshinao Tokugawa 1978
Falcons of Edo
Falcons of Edo Kanbei Uchiyama 1978
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Japanese Godfather: Ambition Kosuke Oishi 1977
Proof of the Man
Proof of the Man Yohei Kori 1977
Midway
Midway Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 1976
Ronin in a Lawless Town
Ronin in a Lawless Town Mr. Danna 1976
Paper Tiger
Paper Tiger Ambassador Kagoyama 1975
Ronin of the Wastelands
Ronin of the Wastelands Kujuro Toge 1972
Red Sun
Red Sun Kuroda Jubei 1971
V.I.P. Schaukel
V.I.P. Schaukel Self 1971
Epic Chushingura
Epic Chushingura Oishi Kuranosuke 1971
The Militarists
The Militarists Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto 1970
The Walking Major
The Walking Major Kinugasa Tadao 1970
Incident at Blood Pass
Incident at Blood Pass Yojimbo 1970
The Ambitious
The Ambitious Shojiro Goto 1970
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo Yojimbo/Sasa 1970
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor Isami Kondo 1969
Red Lion
Red Lion Gonzo 1969
Battle of the Japan Sea
Battle of the Japan Sea Admiral Heihachiro Togo 1969
Safari 5000
Safari 5000 Yūichirō Takase 1969
Samurai Banners
Samurai Banners Kansuke Yamamoto 1969
Hell in the Pacific
Hell in the Pacific Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda 1968
The Day the Sun Rose
The Day the Sun Rose Kumaza 1968
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Yamamoto Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 1968
The Sands of Kurobe
The Sands of Kurobe Kitagawa 1968
Japan's Longest Day
Japan's Longest Day War Minister General Korechika Anami 1967
Samurai Rebellion
Samurai Rebellion Isaburo Sasahara 1967
Grand Prix
Grand Prix Izō Yamura 1966
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions Self 1966
The Mad Atlantic
The Mad Atlantic Heihachirô Murakami 1966
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Adventure in Kigan Castle Osami 1966
The Sword of Doom
The Sword of Doom Toranosuke Shimada 1966
Rise Against the Sword
Rise Against the Sword Abare Gōemon 1966
Fort Graveyard
Fort Graveyard Sergeant Kosugi 1965
The Retreat from Kiska
The Retreat from Kiska Omura 1965
Sanshiro Sugata
Sanshiro Sugata Shogoro Yano 1965
Red Beard
Red Beard Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard") 1965
Samurai Assassin
Samurai Assassin Tsuruchiyo Niiro 1965
Whirlwind
Whirlwind Lord Akashi 1964
Samurai Pirate
Samurai Pirate Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version] 1963
Legacy of the 500,000
Legacy of the 500,000 Takeichi Matsuo 1963
High and Low
High and Low Kingo Gondo 1963
Attack Squadron
Attack Squadron Lt. Colonel Senda 1963
Chûshingura
Chûshingura Genba Tawaraboshi 1962
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong Zhang Zhizhang 1962
Tatsu
Tatsu Tatsu 1962
Sanjuro
Sanjuro Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin 1962
The Important Man
The Important Man Ánimas Trujano 1961
The Youth and His Amulet
The Youth and His Amulet Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King) 1961
Yojimbo
Yojimbo Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai 1961
The Masterless 47 – Part II
The Masterless 47 – Part II 1961
Daredevil in the Castle
Daredevil in the Castle Mohei 1961
The Masterless 47
The Masterless 47 Kazuo Momoi 1960
The Bad Sleep Well
The Bad Sleep Well Kôichi Nishi 1960
Man Against Man
Man Against Man Kaji 1960
The Storm of the Pacific
The Storm of the Pacific Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi 1960
The Gambling Samurai
The Gambling Samurai Kunisada Chuji 1960
The Last Gunfight
The Last Gunfight Detective Saburo Fujioka 1960
The Three Treasures
The Three Treasures Prince Yamato Takeru 1959
Desperado Outpost
Desperado Outpost Battalion Commander 1959
Saga of the Vagabonds
Saga of the Vagabonds Rokuro Kai 1959
Samurai Saga
Samurai Saga Heihachiro Komaki 1959
The Big Boss
The Big Boss Kashimura 1959
The Hidden Fortress
The Hidden Fortress General Rokurota Makabe 1958
Theater of Life
Theater of Life 1958
All About Marriage
All About Marriage Acting teacher 1958
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Yaji and Kita on the Road Toshinoshin Taya 1958
The Rickshaw Man
The Rickshaw Man Matsugorō Tomishima 1958
Holiday in Tokyo
Holiday in Tokyo Tenkai's nephew Jirō 1958
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II Tasaburo 1958
Down Town
Down Town Yoshio Tsuruishi 1957
The Lower Depths
The Lower Depths Sutekichi the Thief 1957
A Dangerous Hero
A Dangerous Hero Kawada 1957
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Yagyu Secret Scrolls Tasaburō Kasumi 1957
Good Luck to These Two
Good Luck to These Two Toshio Maruyama 1957
A Man in the Storm
A Man in the Storm Saburō Watari 1957
Throne of Blood
Throne of Blood Taketoki Washizu 1957
Rebels on the High Sea
Rebels on the High Sea Matsuo Tokuzō 1956
Scoundrel
Scoundrel Kanji 1956
A Wife's Heart
A Wife's Heart Kenkichi 1956
Settlement of Love
Settlement of Love Shuntarō Ōhira 1956
The Underworld
The Underworld Chief Inspector Kumada 1956
Rainy Night Duel
Rainy Night Duel Masahiko Koseki 1956
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo 1956
I Live in Fear
I Live in Fear Kiichi Nakajima 1955
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo 1955
No Time for Tears
No Time for Tears Mitsuo Yano 1955
All is Well 2
All is Well 2 Daikichi Risshun 1955
All is Well
All is Well Daikichi Risshun 1955
A Man Among Men
A Man Among Men "Buick" Maki 1955
The Black Fury
The Black Fury Eiichi Tsuda 1954
The Surf
The Surf Skipper of the Utashima-maru 1954
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo 1954
Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai Kikuchiyo 1954
The Eagle of the Pacific
The Eagle of the Pacific 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga 1953
Sunflower Girl
Sunflower Girl Ippei Hitachi 1953
The Last Embrace
The Last Embrace Shinkichi / Hayakawa 1953
My Wonderful Yellow Car
My Wonderful Yellow Car Matsumura 1953
The Man Who Came to Port
The Man Who Came to Port Gorō Niinuma 1952
Swift Current
Swift Current Shunsuke Kosugi 1952
Tokyo Sweetheart
Tokyo Sweetheart Kurokawa 1952
Sword for Hire
Sword for Hire Sasa Hayatenosuke 1952
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl 1952
The Life of Oharu
The Life of Oharu Katsunosuke 1952
Foghorn
Foghorn Chiyokichi 1952
Vendetta of a Samurai
Vendetta of a Samurai Mataemon Araki 1952
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Who Knows a Woman's Heart Mizuno 1951
The Life of a Horse Trader
The Life of a Horse Trader Yonetaro Katayama 1951
Sasaki Kojiro
Sasaki Kojiro Miyamoto Musashi 1951
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre Kenji Kawakami 1951
Pirates
Pirates Tora 1951
The Idiot
The Idiot Denkichi Akama 1951
Elegy
Elegy Prosecutor Daisuke Toki 1951
Beyond Love and Hate
Beyond Love and Hate Gorō Sakata 1951
Rashomon
Rashomon Tajômaru 1950
Wedding Ring
Wedding Ring Takeshi Ema 1950
Scandal
Scandal Ichirô Aoye 1950
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka Teisaku Nagasawa 1950
Escape from Prison
Escape from Prison Shinkichi 1950
Stray Dog
Stray Dog Det. Murakami 1949
Jakoman and Tetsu
Jakoman and Tetsu Tetsu 1949
The Quiet Duel
The Quiet Duel Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki 1949
Drunken Angel
Drunken Angel Matsunaga 1948
These Foolish Times
These Foolish Times Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss 1947
Snow Trail
Snow Trail Eijima 1947

Powered by

TMDB
× Person photo
Back to Person Search