Toshirō Mifune

Personal Info

Known For Actor

Gender Male

Birthday 1920-04-02

Deathday 1997-12-24 (77 years old)

Place of Birth Qingdao, China

Also Known As Toshiroh Mifune, Mifune Toshirō

Toshirō Mifune

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

Actor

2020
2016
Mifune: The Last Samurai

as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)

2000
Kurosawa

as Self (archive footage)

1996
1995
Picture Bride

as The Benshi

1995
Deep River

as Tsukada

1992
1991
Journey of Honor

as Ieyasu Tokugawa

1991
1990
1989
Death of a Tea Master

as Rikyu Sen-no

1989
cf Girl

as Shūichirō Hase

1989
The Demon Comes in Spring

as Kukkune no jî

1987
Princess from the Moon

as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko

1987
The Retired Samurai

as Hikozaemon Ōkubo

1987
Tora-san Goes North

as Junkichi Ueno

1987
The Shatterer

as Murai

1986
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai

as Kyūbei Matsufuji

1985
No More God, No More Love

as Kōzō Kanzaki

1984
1984
Burning Mountain River

as Otsuichi Amo

1983
The Women of Osaka Castle

as Tokugawa Ieyasu

1983
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass

as Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô

1983
Battle Anthem

as Admiral Heihachiro Togo

1983
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl

as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô

1983
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell

as Sanjuro Hinoki

1983
Theater Of Life

as Hyōtarō Aonari

1982
1982
Domineering

as Masao Tadokoro

1982
The Challenge

as Toru Yoshida

1981
Lowly Ronin

as Sanjuro Hinoki

1981
The Bushido Blade

as Shogun's Commander

1981
Inchon

as Saito-San

1981
Sekigahara

as Sakon Shima

1980
Port Arthur

as Emperor Meiji

1980
Shōgun

as Lord Yoshi Toranaga

1979
1941

as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura

1979
1979
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi

as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"

1979
Winter Kills

as Keith

1979
The 47 Ronins of Ako

as Tachibana Sakon

1978
Lord Mito

as Sakuzaemon Okumura

1978
The Fall of Ako Castle

as Tsuchiya Michinao

1978
1978
Love and Faith

as Taiko Hideyoshi

1978
Shag

as Captain Takeo Murata

1978
Shogun's Samurai

as Yoshinao Tokugawa

1978
Falcons of Edo

as Kanbei Uchiyama

1977
1977
Proof of the Man

as Yohei Kori

1976
Midway

as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

1976
1975
Paper Tiger

as Ambassador Kagoyama

1972
1971
Red Sun

as Kuroda Jubei

1971
1971
Epic Chushingura

as Oishi Kuranosuke

1970
The Militarists

as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto

1970
The Walking Major

as Kinugasa Tadao

1970
1970
The Ambitious

as Shojiro Goto

1970
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo

as Yojimbo/Sasa

1969
Red Lion

as Gonzo

1969
Battle of the Japan Sea

as Admiral Heihachiro Togo

1969
Safari 5000

as Yūichirō Takase

1969
Samurai Banners

as Kansuke Yamamoto

1968
Hell in the Pacific

as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda

1968
1968
Admiral Yamamoto

as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

1968
1967
Japan's Longest Day

as War Minister General Korechika Anami

1967
Samurai Rebellion

as Isaburo Sasahara

1966
Grand Prix

as Izō Yamura

1966
Rise Against the Sword

as Abare Gōemon

1966
The Mad Atlantic

as Heihachirô Murakami

1966
The Sword of Doom

as Toranosuke Shimada

1965
Fort Graveyard

as Sergeant Kosugi

1965
Sanshiro Sugata

as Shogoro Yano

1965
Red Beard

as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")

1965
Samurai Assassin

as Tsuruchiyo Niiro

1964
Whirlwind

as Lord Akashi

1963
Samurai Pirate

as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]

1963
Legacy of the 500,000

as Takeichi Matsuo

1963
High and Low

as Kingo Gondo

1963
Attack Squadron

as Lt. Colonel Senda

1962
47 Ronin

as Genba Tawaraboshi

1962
1962
Sanjuro

as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin

1961
The Important Man

as Ánimas Trujano

1961
The Youth and His Amulet

as Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)

1961
Yojimbo

as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai

1960
The Masterless 47

as Kazuo Momoi

1960
The Bad Sleep Well

as Kôichi Nishi

1960
1960
The Storm of the Pacific

as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi

1960
The Gambling Samurai

as Kunisada Chuji

1960
The Last Gunfight

as Detective Saburo Fujioka

1959
The Three Treasures

as Prince Yamato Takeru

1959
Desperado Outpost

as Battalion Commander

1959
Saga of the Vagabonds

as Rokuro Kai

1959
Samurai Saga

as Heihachiro Komaki

1959
The Big Boss

as Kashimura

1958
The Hidden Fortress

as General Rokurota Makabe

1958
All About Marriage

as Acting teacher

1958
Yaji and Kita on the Road

as Toshinoshin Taya

1958
The Rickshaw Man

as Matsugorō Tomishima

1958
A Holiday in Tokyo

as Tenkai's nephew Jirō

1957
Down Town

as Yoshio Tsuruishi

1957
The Lower Depths

as Sutekichi the Thief

1957
1957
Yagyu Secret Scrolls

as Tasaburō Kasumi

1957
Good Luck to These Two

as Toshio Maruyama

1957
A Man in the Storm

as Saburō Watari

1957
Throne of Blood

as Taketori Washizu

1956
Rebels on the High Sea

as Matsuo Tokuzō

1956
Scoundrel

as Kanji

1956
A Wife's Heart

as Kenkichi

1956
Settlement of Love

as Shuntarō Ōhira

1956
The Underworld

as Chief Inspector Kumada

1956
Rainy Night Duel

as Masahiko Koseki

1956
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

1955
I Live in Fear

as Kiichi Nakajima

1955
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple

as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

1955
No Time for Tears

as Mitsuo Yano

1955
All is Well 2

as Daikichi Risshun

1955
All is Well

as Daikichi Risshun

1955
A Man Among Men

as "Buick" Maki

1954
The Black Fury

as Eiichi Tsuda

1954
The Surf

as Skipper of the Utashima-maru

1954
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

1954
Seven Samurai

as Kikuchiyo

1953
Eagle of the Pacific

as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga

1953
Sunflower Girl

as Ippei Hitachi

1953
The Last Embrace

as Shinkichi / Hayakawa

1953
1952
The Man Who Came to Port

as Gorō Niinuma

1952
Swift Current

as Shunsuke Kosugi

1952
Tokyo Sweetheart

as Kurokawa

1952
Sword for Hire

as Sasa Hayatenosuke

1952
The Life of Oharu

as Katsunosuke

1952
Foghorn

as Chiyokichi

1952
Vendetta of a Samurai

as Mataemon Araki

1951
The Life of a Horse Trader

as Yonetaro Katayama

1951
Sasaki Kojiro

as Miyamoto Musashi

1951
Pirates

as Tora

1951
The Idiot

as Denkichi Akama

1951
Elegy

as Prosecutor Daisuke Toki

1951
Beyond Love and Hate

as Gorō Sakata

1950
Rashomon

as Tajômaru

1950
Wedding Ring

as Takeshi Ema

1950
Scandal

as Ichirô Aoye

1950
1950
Escape from Prison

as Shinkichi

1949
Stray Dog

as Det. Murakami

1949
1949
The Quiet Duel

as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki

1948
Drunken Angel

as Matsunaga

1947
These Foolish Times

as Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss

1947
Snow Trail

as Eijima

Producer

1979
1978
Shag

as Executive Producer

1972
Ronin of the Wastelands

as Associate Producer

1971
Morning for Two

as Producer

1970
1969
Red Lion

as Producer

1969
Samurai Banners

as Producer

1967
Samurai Rebellion

as Producer

1966
The Mad Atlantic

as Executive Producer

1966
Adventure in Kigan Castle

as Associate Producer

1965
Fort Graveyard

as Associate Producer

1963
Legacy of the 500,000

as Associate Producer

Director

1963