Toshirō Mifune (April 2, 1920 - December 24, 1997) was a Japanese actor who is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema. He was born in Qingdao, China, but was raised in Japan. Mifune's career spanned over 50 years, during which he collaborated extensively with renowned director Akira Kurosawa, creating some of the most iconic films in Japanese cinema.
Mifune gained international recognition for his performances in Kurosawa's films, particularly in samurai films. He portrayed strong, dynamic, and often rebellious characters, bringing a raw intensity to his roles. Some of his notable collaborations with Kurosawa include "Rashomon" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), which inspired George Lucas's "Star Wars."
Apart from his work with Kurosawa, Mifune appeared in numerous other films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He played roles in various genres, including dramas, comedies, and war films. Some of his other notable films include "The Throne of Blood" (1957), "High and Low" (1963), and "Red Beard" (1965).
Mifune's charismatic presence, powerful performances, and ability to convey complex emotions made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He received international recognition and awards for his contributions to the film industry, including several honors at the Venice Film Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Known For
Seven Samurai
(1954)
Kikuchiyo
Midway
(1976)
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Red Sun
(1971)
Kuroda Jubei
Rashomon
(1950)
Tajômaru
Grand Prix
(1966)
Izo Yamura
Throne of Blood
(1957)
Taketori Washizu
Yojimbo
(1961)
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
Stray Dog
(1949)
Det. Murakami
The Hidden Fortress
(1958)
General Rokurota Makabe
1941
(1979)
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
High and Low
(1963)
Kingo Gondo
Shogun
(1981)
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
The Challenge
(1982)
Toru Yoshida
Drunken Angel
(1948)
Matsunaga
Red Beard
(1965)
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Inchon
(1981)
Saito-San
Full Filmography
Acting
Snow Trail
(1947)
Eijima
These Foolish Times
(1947)
Genzaburo Ohno, Gang Boss
Drunken Angel
(1948)
Matsunaga
Stray Dog
(1949)
Det. Murakami
The Quiet Duel
(1949)
Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
Jakoman and Tetsu
(1949)
Tetsu
Rashomon
(1950)
Tajômaru
Scandal
(1950)
Ichirô Aoye
Wedding Ring
(1950)
Takeshi Ema
Sasaki Kojiro
(1950)
Miyamoto Musashi
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
(1950)
Teisaku Nagasawa
Escape from Prison
(1950)
Shinkichi
The Idiot
(1951)
Denkichi Akama
The Life of a Horse Trader
(1951)
Yonetaro Katayama
Beyond Love and Hate
(1951)
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
(1951)
Kenji Kawakami
Pirates
(1951)
Tora
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
(1951)
Mizuno
Elegy
(1951)
Daisuke Toki
The Life of Oharu
(1952)
Katsunosuke
Vendetta of a Samurai
(1952)
Mataemon Araki
Foghorn
(1952)
Chiyokichi
Sword for Hire
(1952)
Sasa Hayatenosuke
Tokyo Sweetheart
(1952)
Kurokawa
The Man Who Came to Port
(1952)
Goro Niinuma
Swift Current
(1952)
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
(1952)
Eagle of the Pacific
(1953)
1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
The Last Embrace
(1953)
My Wonderful Yellow Car
(1953)
Matsumura
Sunflower Girl
(1953)
Ippei Hitachi
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
(1954)
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Seven Samurai
(1954)
Kikuchiyo
The Surf
(1954)
Skipper of the Utashima-maru
The Black Fury
(1954)
Eiichi Tsuda
I Live in Fear
(1955)
Kiichi Nakajima
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
(1955)
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
No Time for Tears
(1955)
A Man Among Men
(1955)
Maki
All is Well
(1955)
Taichi Daikichi
All is Well 2
(1955)
Taichi Daikichi
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
(1956)
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
A Wife's Heart
(1956)
Kenkichi
The Underworld
(1956)
Scoundrel
(1956)
Rainy Night Duel
(1956)
Masahiko Koseki
Rebels on the High Sea
(1956)
Matsuo Tokuzô
Settlement of Love
(1956)
Shuntaro Ohira
Throne of Blood
(1957)
Taketori Washizu
The Lower Depths
(1957)
Sutekichi the Thief
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
(1957)
Tasaburo
Down Town
(1957)
Good Luck to These Two
(1957)
Toshio Maruyama
A Man in the Storm
(1957)
Saburô Watari
A Dangerous Hero
(1957)
The Hidden Fortress
(1958)
General Rokurota Makabe
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
(1958)
Tasaburo
The Rickshaw Man
(1958)
Matsugoro
Jinsei Gekijo
(1958)
Yaji and Kita on the Road
(1958)
Toshinoshin Taya
All About Marriage
(1958)
Acting teacher
A Holiday in Tokyo
(1958)
Desperado Outpost
(1959)
Battalion Commander
Samurai Saga
(1959)
Heihachiro Komaki
The Three Treasures
(1959)
Prince Yamato Takeru
Saga of the Vagabonds
(1959)
Rokuro Kai
The Big Boss
(1959)
Kashimura
The Bad Sleep Well
(1960)
Kôichi Nishi
The Last Gunfight
(1960)
Detective Saburo Fujioka
The Storm of the Pacific
(1960)
Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
The Gambling Samurai
(1960)
Kunisada Chuji
Man Against Man
(1960)
Kaji
The Masterless 47
(1960)
Kazuo Momoi
Yojimbo
(1961)
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
The Important Man
(1961)
Ánimas Trujano
Daredevil in the Castle
(1961)
Mohei
The Youth and His Amulet
(1961)
Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
The Masterless 47 – Part II
(1961)
Sanjuro
(1962)
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
47 Ronin
(1962)
Genba Tawaraboshi
Doburoku no Tatsu
(1962)
Tatsu
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
(1962)
Zhang Zhizhang
High and Low
(1963)
Kingo Gondo
Samurai Pirate
(1963)
Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Attack Squadron
(1963)
Lt. Colonel Senda
Legacy of the 500,000
(1963)
Takeichi Matsuo
Whirlwind
(1964)
Lord Akashi
Samurai Assassin
(1965)
Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Fort Graveyard
(1965)
Sergeant Kosugi
Red Beard
(1965)
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
The Retreat from Kiska
(1965)
Omura
Sanshiro Sugata
(1965)
Shogoro Yano
Grand Prix
(1966)
Izo Yamura
The Sword of Doom
(1966)
Toranosuke Shimada
Adventure in Kigan Castle
(1966)
Osami
Rise Against the Sword
(1966)
Abare Gōemon
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
(1966)
Self
The Mad Atlantic
(1966)
Heihachirô Murakami
Samurai Rebellion
(1967)
Isaburo Sasahara
Japan's Longest Day
(1967)
War Minister General Korechika Anami
Hell in the Pacific
(1968)
Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
The Sands of Kurobe
(1968)
Kitagawa
Admiral Yamamoto
(1968)
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
The Day the Sun Rose
(1968)
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
(1969)
Isami Kondo
Samurai Banners
(1969)
Kansuke Yamamoto
Red Lion
(1969)
Gonzo
Battle of the Japan Sea
(1969)
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Safari 5000
(1969)
Incident at Blood Pass
(1970)
Yojimbo
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
(1970)
Yojimbo/Sasa
The Ambitious
(1970)
Shojiro Goto
The Militarists
(1970)
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Walking Major
(1970)
Kinugasa Tadao
Red Sun
(1971)
Kuroda Jubei
Paper Tiger
(1975)
Ambassador Kagoyama
Midway
(1976)
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Proof of the Man
(1977)
Yohei Kori
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
(1977)
Kosuke Oishi
The Fall of Ako Castle
(1978)
Tsuchiya Michinao
Shogun's Samurai
(1978)
Lord of Owari
Love and Faith
(1978)
Taiko Hideyoshi
Dog Whistle
(1978)
Lord Mito
(1978)
Sakuzaemon Okumura
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
(1978)
Kosuke Oishi
1941
(1979)
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Winter Kills
(1979)
Keith
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
(1979)
Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
(1979)
Port Arthur
(1980)
Emperor Meiji
Inchon
(1981)
Saito-San
The Bushido Blade
(1981)
Shogun's Commander
Lowly Ronin
(1981)
Sanjuro Hinoki
Shogun
(1981)
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
(1981)
The Challenge
(1982)
Toru Yoshida
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
(1982)
Sanjuro Hinoki
Domineering
(1982)
Masao Tadokoro
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
(1982)
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
(1982)
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
(1983)
Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
(1983)
Sanjuro Hinoki
Battle Anthem
(1983)
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Theater Of Life
(1983)
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
(1983)
Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
(1983)
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
(1984)
Fisherman
No More God, No More Love
(1985)
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
(1986)
Princess from the Moon
(1987)
Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
Tora-san Goes North
(1987)
Junkichi Ueno
The Shatterer
(1987)
Murai
Shogun's Advisor
(1987)
Death of a Tea Master
(1989)
Rikyu Sen-no
The Demon Comes in Spring
(1989)
cf Girl
(1989)
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
(1990)
Journey of Honor
(1991)
Lord Ieyasu
Strawberry Road
(1991)
Taoka
Shadow of the Wolf
(1992)
Kroomak
Deep River
(1995)
Tsukada
Picture Bride
(1995)
The Benshi
The Making of '1941'
(1996)
(archive)
Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman
(1998)
Self (archive footage)
Kurosawa
(2000)
Self (archive footage)
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
(2002)
Self
Mifune: The Last Samurai
(2016)
Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Directing
Production
Legacy of the 500,000
(1963)
Associate Producer
Fort Graveyard
(1965)
Associate Producer
Adventure in Kigan Castle
(1966)
Associate Producer
The Mad Atlantic
(1966)
Executive Producer
Samurai Rebellion
(1967)
Producer
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
(1969)
Producer
Samurai Banners
(1969)
Producer
Red Lion
(1969)
Producer
Incident at Blood Pass
(1970)
Producer
Morning for Two
(1971)
Producer
Dog Whistle
(1978)
Executive Producer
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
(1979)
Associate Producer