Hiroyuki Sanada (真田 広之, Sanada Hiroyuki, born Hiroyuki Shimosawa (下澤 廣之, Shimosawa Hiroyuki); 12 October 1960) is a Japanese actor from Tokyo. Before breaking in to the movie business, he trained at Sonny Chiba’s Japan Action Club hoping to one day become a martial arts action film star. Sanada appeared in many action films in the 70s and early 80s, but as it became clear he was actually a talented and well-rounded actor, he was able to branch out into all different types of roles in every genre. Today he is best known in the west for his involvement in big-budget Hollywood productions such as The Last Samurai and Rush Hour 3.
Known For
Avengers: Endgame
(2019)
Akihiko
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
Shimazu
Bullet Train
(2022)
The Elder
Life
(2017)
Sho Murakami
Mortal Kombat
(2021)
Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
Army of Thieves
(2021)
Bly Tanaka (archive footage)
Rush Hour 3
(2007)
Kenji
Sunshine
(2007)
Kaneda
The Last Samurai
(2003)
Ujio
47 Ronin
(2013)
Kuranosuke Ôishi
Army of the Dead
(2021)
Bly Tanaka
Minions
(2015)
Sumo (voice)
Ring 2
(1999)
Ryuji Takayama
Speed Racer
(2008)
Mr. Musha
Mr. Holmes
(2015)
Tamiki Umezaki
Ring
(1998)
Ryuji Takayama
Full Filmography
Acting
Game of Chance
(1966)
Kenichi Endo
Game of Chance 3
(1967)
Game of Chance 2
(1967)
New Prison Walls of Abashiri: The Vagrant Comes to a Port Town
(1969)
The Executioner
(1974)
Toga
Message from Space
(1978)
Shiro Hongo
Message from Space: Galactic Wars The Movie
(1978)
Gen Hayato / Maboroshi
Shogun's Samurai
(1978)
Hayate
G.I. Samurai
(1979)
Takeda Katsuyori
The Shogun Assassins
(1979)
Monk Miyoshi Isa
Dreamy Fifteen
(1980)
Isozaki
Shogun's Ninja
(1980)
Momochi Takamaru
Roaring Fire
(1981)
Joji
Samurai Reincarnation
(1981)
Kirimaru Iga
Kamikaze, the Adventurer
(1981)
Akira Hoshino
The Blazing Valiant
(1981)
Joe
Space Ninja: Sword of the Space Ark
(1981)
Lovers Lost
(1982)
Kunihiko Yasuoka
Fall Guy
(1982)
Actor
Ninja Wars
(1982)
Jotaro Fuefuki
Ninja In The Dragon's Den
(1982)
Genbu
Legend of the Eight Samurai
(1983)
Inue Shinbei Masashi
Kabamaru the Ninja Boy
(1983)
Shizune Mejiro
Mahjong Horoki
(1984)
Bouya Tetsu
The Street of Desire
(1984)
Joji Tanaka
Kotaro, An Audacious Karate Boy
(1984)
Date Yoshioka
The Dagger of Kamui
(1985)
Jirô
One Who Died in Vain
(1986)
Royal Warriors
(1986)
Peter Yamamoto
Cabaret
(1986)
Tanokura
House on Fire
(1986)
Chuya Nakahara
松田聖子のスイート・メモリーズ
(1987)
Sure Death 4
(1987)
Ukyo
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
(1988)
Kaito Ruby
(1988)
Toru Hayashi
Why Do I Choose?
(1989)
Let's Go to the Hospital
(1990)
Yellow Fangs
(1990)
Eiji
Shingo's Ten Duels
(1990)
Aoi Shingo
Tsugumi
(1990)
Kyoichi Takahashi
Succession
(1992)
Masakazu Yoshinari
Yamai wa kikara: Byôin e ikô 2
(1992)
Oda Nobunaga
(1992)
The City That Never Sleeps: Shinjuku Shark
(1993)
Detective Same
We Are Not Alone
(1993)
Hero Interview
(1994)
Jinta Todoroki
119
(1994)
Uneasy Encounters
(1994)
Crest of Betrayal
(1994)
Takuminokami Asano
Sharaku
(1995)
Tonbo
The Abe Clan
(1995)
Emoto Matashichiro
East Meets West
(1995)
Kamijo Kenkichi
Tadon and Chikuwa
(1998)
The Spiral
(1998)
Ryûji Takayama
Ring
(1998)
Ryuji Takayama
Murder on D Street
(1998)
Seiichiro Fukiya
Round About Midnight
(1999)
Koji
Ring 2
(1999)
Ryuji Takayama
First Love
(2000)
Shinichirô Fujiki
All About Our House
(2001)
Bartender
Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master
(2001)
Dōson
Vengeance for Sale
(2002)
Sukeroku Sukedachiya
The Twilight Samurai
(2002)
Seibei Iguchi
The Last Samurai
(2003)
Ujio
Aegis
(2005)
Hisashi Sengoku
The White Countess
(2005)
Matsuda
The Promise
(2005)
General Guangming
Sunshine
(2007)
Kaneda
Rush Hour 3
(2007)
Kenji
Speed Racer
(2008)
Mr. Musha
The City of Your Final Destination
(2009)
Pete
The Wolverine
(2013)
Shingen Harada / Lord Shingen
The Railway Man
(2013)
Nagase
47 Ronin
(2013)
Kuranosuke Ôishi
The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin
(2013)
Self
Minions
(2015)
Sumo (voice)
Mr. Holmes
(2015)
Tamiki Umezaki
Life
(2017)
Sho Murakami
The Catcher Was a Spy
(2018)
Kawabata
Avengers: Endgame
(2019)
Akihiko
Minamata
(2020)
Mitsuo Yamazaki
Army of the Dead
(2021)
Bly Tanaka
Mortal Kombat
(2021)
Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
Army of Thieves
(2021)
Bly Tanaka (archive footage)
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye
(2022)
Akihiko (archive footage)
Bullet Train
(2022)
The Elder
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
Shimazu
Mortal Kombat 2
(2025)
Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
Sound