James Shigeta
Biography
Born in Honolulu in 1929, James Shigeta was an American actor and singer who first made his name as a pop performer abroad, especially in Japan, before turning to Hollywood. He studied drama at New York University and won a television talent contest in 1950. His U.S. screen debut came in The Crimson Kimono (1959), playing an Asian-American detective, and he went on to star in Flower Drum Song (1961) and Bridge to the Sun (1961). In 1960 he shared a Golden Globe for promising male newcomer with three other actors. Later films included Midway (1976), Die Hard (1988), and the voice cast of Disney's Mulan (1998). He also appeared widely on television, from a 1961 Alcoa Premiere guest spot to Avatar: The Last Airbender in 2005, and received a Visionary Award from East West Players in 2005.
85years old at death
- Born Honolulu
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Also credited as James Saburo Shigeta
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 48 years1961 to 2009
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Languages
Toho Studios in Tokyo invited Shigeta to be a musical star in Japan under his real name, and he did not speak Japanese until then. He succeeded in radio, television, stage, movies and recordings, and became widely known as "The Frank Sinatra of Japan."
About the name
Shigeta's agent gave him the non-ethnic-sounding stage name "Guy Brion" when he teamed with Hawaiian operatic tenor Charles K.L. Davis for a supper-club musical career.
James Shigeta movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Hong's page
Robert Mitchum's page
Ed Nelson's page
Virginia Ann Lee's page
Christina Kokubo's page
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.