The famous Japanese star of “Godzilla” movies has died
Takarada Akira, the famous Japanese actor in the “Godzilla” movies, has passed away.
Theater News Base: Takarada Akira, a Japanese actor best known for starring in the early films Godzilla and other Tohu’s science fiction films Kaiju (Monster) in the 1950s and 1960s, has died at the age of 87. The cause of death of this actor has not been announced.
Takarada was born in 1934 in Japanese-occupied Korea. He came to Japan in 1948 with his family to speak Mandarin Chinese and English.
Takarada entered Toho Studios in 1953 after passing the “New Face” test.
The actor starred in the 1954 film Godzilla as a Navy Diver. He later starred in the series’ subsequent films, including “Motra vs. Godzilla” (1964), “Star-Monster Invasion” (1965), and “Godzilla vs. Sea Monster” (1966).
Takarada also appeared in Ozu Yasujiro’s films (the script has been renamed) and Naruse Mikko, as well as musicals, melodrama, historical drama and other major genres by Tohu’s studio.
After the collapse of the Japanese studio system in the 1970s, Takarada’s presence in films diminished, although his career was revived in the 1990s with supporting roles in Juzo’s orphan films.