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Mako

Name in Native Language: "岩松 信" (Japanese/JA)
Actor | * 12/10/1933 († 72, 07/21/2006) | Kobe (Japan)
7,149
Makoto Iwamatsu (岩松 信, Iwamatsu Makoto, December 10, 1933 – July 21, 2006) was a Japanese-American actor, credited mononymously in almost all of his acting roles as simply Mako (マコ). His career in film, on television, and on stage spanned nearly fifty years and 165 productions, from 1959 to 2007. He was an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Tony Award nominee. Born and raised in Kobe, Mako moved to the United States after the Second World War, where his dissident parents had moved to escape political persecution. After serving with the United States Army during the Korean War, he trained in acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and later co-founded the East West Players. His role as Po-Han (his second credited role on film) in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles saw him nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Other various roles included Kichijiro in the 1971 film adaptation of Silence, Oomiak "The Fearless One" in The Island at the Top of the World (1974), Akiro the Wizard... ()
Photo of Mako

Mako was born in Kobe, Japan, the son of noted children's book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. His parents moved to the United States when he was a small child. He joined them there after World War II, in 1949, joining the military in the 1950s. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1956. When Mako first joined his parents in the USA, he studied architecture. During his military service, he discovered his theatrical talent, and trained at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Mako was married to actress Shizuko Hoshi with whom he had two daughters (both are actresses) and three grandchildren.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Action | Comedies

Known for these Movies & Shows

The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson ...

Pearl Harbor

PG-13

2001 | 3.5/5 | 3h 3min
Action, War, History, Romance / Love, Drama
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Austrian mountaineer, Heinrich Harrer journeys to the Himalayas without his family to head an expedition in 1939. But when World War II breaks out, the arrogant Harrer falls into Allied forces' hands ...

Seven Years in Tibet

PG-13

1997 | 3.6/5 | 2h 16min
Adventure, Drama, History
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A film adaptation of the classic sword and sorcery hero, Conan the Barbarian. A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pa ...

Conan the Barbarian

R

1982 | 3.4/5 | 2h 9min
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
available on:
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Conan is commissioned by the evil queen Taramis to safely escort a teen princess and her powerful bodyguard to a far away castle to retrieve the magic Horn of Dagoth. Unknown to Conan, the queen plans ...

Conan the Destroyer

PG

1984 | 3.1/5 | 1h 43min
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
available on:
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Awards & Nominations for Mako

Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
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Movies with Mako as Actor(73)

as Splinter (voice)2007 TMNT
as Poe2007 Rise: Blood Hunter
as himself2006 The Slanted Screen
as Sakamoto2005 Memoirs of a Geisha
as Mr. Kojima2003 Bulletproof Monk
as Straw Hat2002 Cruel Game
as Aku2001 Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie
as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto2001 Pearl Harbor
as The Wizard (archive footage)2000 Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
as Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)2000 Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
as Old Momo1999 Alegría: An Enchanting Fable
1999 The Accomplice
as Shen1998 The Bird People in China
as Kungo Tsarong1997 Seven Years in Tibet
1997 The Sea Wolf
as Mr. Lee1997 Riot
as Mr. Young1996 Sworn to Justice
as Todo Matsumoto1996 Balance of Power
as Sensei1995 A Dangerous Place
as Buun Som1995 Midnight Man
as Shido Shimazaki1995 Crying Freeman
as Nakano1994 Highlander III: The Sorcerer
as Buntoro Iga1994 Red Sun Rising
as Kanemitsu1993 RoboCop 3
as Yoshida-san1993 Rising Sun
as Narrator (voice)1992 Nightingale
1992 My Samurai
as Mr. Lee1992 Sidekicks
as Kim1991 The Perfect Weapon
as Frank Machida1991 Strawberry Road
as Capt. Kilalo1990 Murder in Paradise
as Trang1990 Fatal Mission
as Sgt. Moritaki1990 Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes
as Toshio Watanabe1990 Pacific Heights
as Mr. Sakamoto1990 Taking Care of Business
as Max Chin1989 An Unremarkable Life
as Nobu Matsumoto1988 The Wash
as Jimmy1988 Tucker: The Man and His Dream
as Oyama1988 Silent Assassins
as Capt. Vinh1986 P.O.W. The Escape
as The Manchu1986 Kung Fu The Movie
as Akira Tanaka1986 Armed Response
as Akiro 'The Wizard'1984 Conan the Destroyer
as Gardener / Minister1983 The Nightingale
as Aitaro Sakura1983 The Last Ninja
as Mike1983 Testament
as Mori1983 Girls of the White Orchid
as The Wizard / Narrator1982 Conan the Barbarian
as James Chan1981 An Eye for an Eye
as Enjiro1981 The Bushido Blade
as Nakomuri1981 Under the Rainbow
as Herbert1980 The Big Brawl
as Oda1980 Hito Hata: Raise the Banner
as Maj. Bai1979 When Hell Was in Session
as Fukimoto1976 Farewell to Manzanar
as Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble1976 Pacific Overtures
as Sgt. Nguyen1975 Prisoners
as Yuen Chung1975 The Killer Elite
as Low Sing1974 The Green Hornet
as Tao Gan1974 Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders
as Oomiak1974 The Island at the Top of the World
as Rooster (voice)1972 Yokahama Mama
as Tadashi1971 If Tomorrow Comes
as Kichijiro (as Mako Iwamatsu)1971 Silence
as Mun Ki1970 The Hawaiians
as Psychiatrist1970 Fools
as Yuro1970 The Challenge
as Secret Agent Fong1969 The Great Bank Robbery
as Calvin Coolidge Ishimura1968 The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
as Po-han1966 The Sand Pebbles
as Kenji1966 The Ugly Dachshund
as Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)1965 McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force
as Soldier in Hospital (uncredited)1959 Never So Few

TV Shows/Series with Mako as Actor(66)

2005 Maid in Akihabara
as Iroh (voice)2005 Avatar: The Last Airbender
2004 Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
2003 Black Sash
2003 Duck Dodgers
as (voice)2002 What's New, Scooby-Doo?
2002 Monk
as Aku (voice)2001 Samurai Jack
as Hermit (voice)2001 Samurai Jack
2000 The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
as Dr. Yosh Takahashi1999 The West Wing
1998 Martial Law
as Henry Muranaka1996 7th Heaven
1995 Platypus Man
as Ichiro Higashimori1995 JAG
as Dr. Henry Lee1993 Walker, Texas Ranger
as Edward Song1993 Walker, Texas Ranger
as Li Sung1993 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
as Lee Moy1993 Diagnosis: Murder
as Sam Tanaka1993 Frasier
1989 The Simpsons
as Mr. Yamamoto1989 The Paradise Club
1988 Paradise
1988 Supercarrier
as Tran1987 Tour of Duty
as Toshiro Tanaka1986 Lovejoy
as Jimmy Thanarat1985 The Equalizer
1985 Spenser: For Hire
1984 Hawaiian Heat
as Pastry Chef1983 The A-Team
1982 Voyagers
1982 Bring 'Em Back Alive
as Gardener / Minister1982 Faerie Tale Theatre
1981 Flamingo Road
1981 The Greatest American Hero
1980 Magnum, P.I.
1979 The Facts of Life
1979 Supertrain
as Tanaka1979 A Man Called Sloane
1978 Visions
as Li Sung1977 The Incredible Hulk
1976 Mr. T and Tina
1976 Quincy, M.E.
as Mr. Brown1975 Wonder Woman
1975 Khan!
1972 Kung Fu
1972 Anna and the King
as Major Choi1972 M*A*S*H
as Kanji Ousu1971 Columbo
1969 Room 222
1969 Love, American Style
as Kazuo Tahashi1968 Hawaii Five-O
1967 Ironside
1967 Mannix
as Lt. Nakamura1966 The Time Tunnel
as Kato1965 I Dream of Jeannie
as Wong Lo1965 The Big Valley
1965 Gidget
1965 F Troop
as Yoshimura1965 The F.B.I.
as Happy Tuava1963 Burke's Law
as Pete1963 Burke's Law
1962 McHale's Navy
1962 The Gallant Men
1962 The Lloyd Bridges Show
1958 77 Sunset Strip

Movies with Mako as Crew(1)

Art/Production Design1971 Silence

Born: Sunday, 12/10 1933 (December) in Kobe (Japan)
Died: Friday, 07/21 2006 (July) in Somis (aged: 72)
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius (Chinese zodiac sign: Rooster)
Languages: English (EN), Japanese (JA)
Educated at: Pasadena Playhouse
Spouses (current/former): Shizuko Hoshi
Siblings: Chihiro Isa
Father: Taro Yashima
Mother: Mitsu Yashima
Other names for Mako (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"岩松 マコ"
"Mako Iwamatsu"
"Mako Wakamatsu"
"Μάκο Ιβαμάτσου"
"Iwamatsu Mako"
"Makoto Iwamatsu"
"まこ いわまつ" (Kana/Japanese)
Mako frequently works together with these people:
Kevin Michael Richardson (38x, Actor)
Tress MacNeille (38x, Actress)
James Hong (28x, Actor)
Clyde Kusatsu (24x, Actor)
Phil LaMarr (23x, Actor)
Pamela Hayden (23x, Actress)
Harlan Warde (21x, Actor)
Bill Quinn (20x, Actor)
Richard Anderson (19x, Actor)
Maggie Roswell (19x, Actress)
Frank Marth (19x, Actor)
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (7x, Actor)

Other people with this name: Mako (JP)

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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:102990, Added: 06/23/2018, Last updated: 04/18/2024