Sessue Hayakawa
Biography
Sessue Hayakawa was a Japanese actor who became the first leading man of Asian descent to win international stardom, starting in silent Hollywood in the 1910s. Born in Nanaura, Japan, he began acting in Los Angeles in 1913 and was signed by Thomas H. Ince for The Typhoon (1914). His breakthrough came with The Cheat (1915), a Cecil B. DeMille film that made him a romantic idol, and he grew famous for playing forbidden lovers. He formed his own production company and produced 23 films before leaving Hollywood in 1922 for Broadway, Japan and Europe. His sound debut was Daughter of the Dragon (1931), followed by Tokyo Joe (1949) and Three Came Home (1950). He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe nomination as Colonel Saito in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and he also appeared as the pirate captain in Swiss Family Robinson (1960). He died in 1973.
84years old at death
- Born Nanaura
- Died Tokyo
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- 早川 金太郎 (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 45 years1915 to 1960
First and latest
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About the name
Hayakawa began his acting career in 1913. Around that time he first took the stage name Sessue, which means "snowy continent."
Getting ready for a role
Hayakawa sought to bring muga, or the "absence of doing," to his performances, an understated style that contrasted with the broad gestures popular at the time.
Sessue Hayakawa movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Sessue Hayakawa shares two films with Teru Shimada, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Teru Shimada's page
Humphrey Bogart's page
Harry Carey Jr.'s page
Whit Bissell's page
Jerry Lewis's page
Robert Ryan's page
David LeanDirector, 1 film, 1957
All films by David Lean
Ken AnnakinDirector, 1 film, 1960
All films by Ken Annakin
All films by Samuel Fuller
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1960 to 1966.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1966 | Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th class | Won | |
| 1960 | Medal with Purple Ribbon | Won | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.