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Akira Takarada (宝田 明 Takarada Akira), born on April 29, 1934, in Japanese occupied Harbin, Manchuria (in present-day China), is a Japanese actor, and speaks Chinese and English. He rose from the Toho "New Face" program (with Yu Fujiki and Momoko Kochi) to become one of the most recognizable men associated with the original Godzilla series, even though he appeared in only four installments.

He began in 1949 with a small role in When the Liberty Bell Rang and after several small roles came his big break as navy diver Hideto Ogata in the original Godzilla (1954). He became a popular actor at Toho for his good looks and charismatic, sophisticated character. He continued his association with the Godzilla series in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966). He returned to the series in 1992 with Godzilla vs. Mothra and appeared again in Godzilla Final Wars (2004). Other Toho science-fiction/special-effects films in which he appeared include Half Human (1958), The Last War (1961), Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), King Kong Escapes (1967), and Latitude Zero (1969).

Toho prepared a musical production of Gone With the Wind with Broadway composer-lyricist Harold Rome for its new Teigeki theater in 1970. Entitled Scarlett, Akira Takarada was originally scheduled to play the role of Rhett Butler. However, injuries sustained in an accident in which he fell off a bulldozer while filming prevented him from participating in this stage production. , p.154.

Today he is still well-known in Japan through his appearances in TV dramas, quiz shows and commercials.

Voice Roles

Video Games

• Jafar: Kingdom Hearts series

Dubbing

• Jafar: Aladdin, The Return of Jafar, Disney's House of Mouse

Reference citations

References

External link

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