
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.
Acting
- 2005Avatar: The Last AirbenderOld Wanderer (voice)1 ep.
- 2003Threat MatrixKang Sok-Joo1 ep.
- 1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestDr. Yamashiro (voice)2 ep.
- 1993seaQuest DSVVietnamese President Chi2 ep.
- 1992RenegadeMr. Ota2 ep.
- 1990Beverly Hills, 90210Ben Sosna3 ep.
- 1984AirwolfColonel Tranh Van Zung1 ep.
- 1983MasqueradeMakko1 ep.
- 1983The HitchhikerNishi1 ep.
- 1981Simon & Simon3 ep.
- 1980Magnum, P.I.Mr. Obotu2 ep.
- 1977The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries1 ep.
- 1976Once an EagleLin Tso-Han7 ep.
- 1975Ellery QueenStephen Yang1 ep.
- 1975S.W.A.T.1 ep.
- 1974Police Woman1 ep.
- 1974Little House on the PrairieSam Wing1 ep.
- 1972Kung FuCol. Lin Pei2 ep.
- 1972The Streets of San FranciscoProsecutor2 ep.
- 1972Emergency!1 ep.
- 1969Medical CenterDr. Osaka2 ep.
- 1967Ironside2 ep.
- 1964The Bing Crosby Show1 ep.
- 1963Burke's LawSidney Ying1 ep.
- 1963The Outer LimitsMaj. Jong2 ep.
- 1963The Lieutenant1 ep.
- 1961Ben CaseyDr. Harvey Lee2 ep.
- 1961Kraft Mystery Theatre1 ep.
- 1958Naked CityJames Kam1 ep.
- 1956The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowSelf1 ep.
- 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Winner3 ep.
Guest appearances
- 2005Avatar: The Last AirbenderOld Wanderer (voice)1 ep.
- 2004Threat MatrixKang Sok-Joo1 ep.
- 1999Beverly Hills, 90210Ben Sosna3 ep.
- 1997The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestDr. Yamashiro (voice), Inspector Mantjur (voice)2 ep.
- 1996CybillMr. Matsuzaki1 ep.
- 1994Babylon 5Taro Isogi1 ep.
- 1993RenegadeMr. Ota2 ep.
- 1994seaQuest DSVVietnamese President Chi2 ep.
- 1987Murder, She WroteJohn Sukahara, Luc Li2 ep.
- 1989Jake and the FatmanMr. Koso Nakasone1 ep.
- 1984Simon & Simon3 ep.
- 1987The HitchhikerNishi1 ep.
- 1983Magnum, P.I.Mr. Obotu, Richard Enoka2 ep.
- 1985AirwolfColonel Tranh Van Zung1 ep.
- 1984Matt HoustonLin Ha1 ep.
- 1983MasqueradeMakko1 ep.
- 1983The Love BoatBud's Father1 ep.
- 1983T. J. HookerChow Duc Khan1 ep.
- 1978The Rockford FilesClement Chin1 ep.
- 1978Police Woman1 ep.
- 1977The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries1 ep.
- 1977Little House on the PrairieSam Wing1 ep.
- 1976The Streets of San FranciscoProsecutor2 ep.
- 1976S.W.A.T.1 ep.
- 1976Ellery QueenStephen Yang1 ep.
- 1974Kung FuCol. Lin Pei, Master Kwan Li2 ep.
- 1974Emergency!1 ep.
- 1969Ironside2 ep.
- 1970Medical CenterDr. Osaka2 ep.
- 1970Mission: ImpossibleShiki1 ep.
- 1968Hawaii Five-OJoseph Matsukino1 ep.
- 1964Ben CaseyDr. Harvey Lee2 ep.
- 1965Perry MasonWard Toyama1 ep.
- 1965The Bing Crosby Show1 ep.
- 1963The Outer LimitsAIO Captain Newa, Maj. Jong2 ep.
- 1964The Lieutenant1 ep.
- 1964Burke's LawSidney Ying1 ep.
- 1963Dr. KildareDr. Roy Shigera1 ep.
- 1963Kraft Mystery Theatre1 ep.
- 1962Naked CityJames Kam1 ep.
- 1950Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Audience Member, Self - Nominee, Self - Winner3 ep.
- 1959The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowSelf1 ep.
Also known as: James Saburo Shigeta · 繁田三郎