James Shigeta
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.
Filmography (86 titles)
6.0MovieBeam Me Up, Sulu
Self · 2025
MovieYorktown: A Time to Heal
Admiral Heilachiro Nogura · 2022
5.7MovieYellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
(archive footage) · 2019
4.5MovieThe People I've Slept With
Charles Yang · 2009
MovieHollywood Chinese
Self · 2007
10.0MovieThe Slanted Screen
Himself · 2006
8.8ShowAvatar: The Last Airbender
Old Wanderer (voice) · 2005
6.1ShowThreat Matrix
Kang Sok-Joo · 2003
7.1MovieBrother
Sugimoto · 2000
Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century
Narrator · 1999
7.9MovieMulan
General Li (voice) · 1998
6.1MovieDrive
Mr. Lau · 1997
7.2ShowThe Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Inspector Mantjur (voice) · 1996
3.5MovieSpace Marines
Ambassador Nakamura · 1996
5.5MovieMidnight Man
Mao Mak · 1995
5.9ShowCybill
Mr. Matsuzaki · 1995
3.4MovieCage II: The Arena of Death
Tin Lum Yin · 1994
6.8MovieHart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die
Det. Whoo · 1994
8.0ShowBabylon 5
Taro Isogi · 1994
7.1ShowseaQuest DSV
Vietnamese President Chi · 1993
6.7ShowRenegade
1992
6.4MovieChina Cry
Dr. Sung · 1990
7.3ShowBeverly Hills, 90210
Ben Sosna · 1990
Home from the Eastern Sea
Narrator · 1990
3.7MovieCage
Tin Lum Yin · 1989
8.0MovieSlaying the Dragon
1988
7.8MovieDie Hard
Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi · 1988
6.2ShowJake and the Fatman
Mr. Koso Nakasone · 1987
7.5ShowMurder, She Wrote
John Sukahara · 1984
7.6ShowAirwolf
Colonel Tranh Van Zung · 1984