James Shigeta
Acting
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. 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.
Media of
James Shigeta
Photos (21)
Filmography of
James Shigeta
Self
... 2025
Admiral Heilachiro Nogura
... 2022
(archive footage)
... 2019
Charles Yang
... 2009
Self
... 2007
Himself
... 2006
Sugimoto
... 2000
... 1999
General Li (voice)
... 1998
Mr. Lau
... 1997
Ambassador Nakamura
... 1996
Mao Mak
... 1995
Tin Lum Yin
... 1994
Det. Whoo
... 1994
Dr. Sung
... 1990
Narrator
... 1990
Tin Lum Yin
... 1989
... 1988
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
... 1988
Jimmy Lee
... 1982
Donald Shibura
... 1982
Field Marshal Abehata
... 1980
Takeo Chisato
... 1979
Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo
... 1976
David Lao
... 1976
Tom McCauley
... 1975
Goro
... 1974
Dr. Chen
... 1974
Brother To-Lenn
... 1973
Lee Ahn
... 1969
Chief Resident
... 1969
Lt. Takahashi
... 1968
Captain Murakami
... 1968
Diver Toshi O'Hara
... 1968
George Ti Ming
... 1967
Lester Koto
... 1967
Danny Kohana
... 1966
Japanese Doctor
... 1964
Wang Ta
... 1961
Hidenari Terasaki
... 1961
Harue
... 1961
Cheng Lu
... 1960
Detective Joe Kojaku
... 1959