Sonny Chiba

Sonny Chiba

Born January 23, 1939 (Age: 87) Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Biography

Sonny Chiba (born January 23, 1939 - August 19, 2021), also known as Shin'ichi Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984. Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (2006). Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sonny Chiba, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Sonny Chiba (born January 23, 1939 - August 19, 2021), also known as Shin'ichi Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984. Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (2006). Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sonny Chiba, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Read more

Filmography

Sushi Girl: A Documentary

Sushi Girl: A Documentary

2013 as Self Age: 74
Sushi Girl

Sushi Girl

2012 as Sushi Chef Age: 73
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

2011 as Hattori Hanzo Age: 72
千年の松 完結編

千年の松 完結編

2009 as Age: 70
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

2006 as Uncle Kamata Age: 67
Kill Bill: Vol. 2

Kill Bill: Vol. 2

2004 as Hattori Hanzo Age: 65
Explosive City

Explosive City

2004 as Otosan Age: 64
Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Kill Bill: Vol. 1

2003 as Hattori Hanzo Age: 64
Battle Royale II: Requiem

Battle Royale II: Requiem

2003 as Makio Mimura Age: 64
The Murder Corps: Road to Kansai Domination

The Murder Corps: Road to Kansai Domination

2001 as Age: 62
The Murder Corps

The Murder Corps

2001 as Age: 62
Born to Be King

Born to Be King

2000 as Ichiro Kusakari Age: 61
Legend of the Flying Swordsman

Legend of the Flying Swordsman

2000 as Dagger Age: 61
Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen

1991 as Takeda Nobutora Age: 51
Minamoto Yoshitsune

Minamoto Yoshitsune

1990 as Age: 51
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die

Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die

1989 as Age: 49
The Awesome Circus Bastard

The Awesome Circus Bastard

1984 as Maejima Daigaku Age: 45
Yagyu Abaretabi

Yagyu Abaretabi

1980 as Age: 41
Miracle on Lubang Island: Army Nakano School

Miracle on Lubang Island: Army Nakano School

1974 as Age: 35
Murderous Love

Murderous Love

1973 as Age: 34
おゝい雲!

おゝい雲!

1965 as Age: 26
Tokyo Untouchables

Tokyo Untouchables

1964 as Age: 25
A Life of Intimidation

A Life of Intimidation

1963 as Age: 24
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

1963 as Age: 24
The Navy

The Navy

1963 as Takao Age: 24
Song of Yakuza

Song of Yakuza

1963 as Age: 24
Asakusa no kyōkaku

Asakusa no kyōkaku

1963 as Shinsuke Hayama / Shintaro Age: 24
Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge

Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge

1963 as Sataro Age: 24
Judo Life

Judo Life

1963 as Age: 24
Violent Street

Violent Street

1963 as Age: 24
Tale of A Company Boss Pt.5

Tale of A Company Boss Pt.5

1963 as Hiroshi Shiomi Age: 24
Fearful Witch

Fearful Witch

1962 as Age: 23
The King

The King

1962 as Age: 23
Gang vs. G-Men

Gang vs. G-Men

1962 as Age: 23
Mid-August Commotion

Mid-August Commotion

1962 as Dr Omori Age: 23
Four Sisters

Four Sisters

1962 as Shinkichi Hayami Age: 23
Zankokuna tsuki

Zankokuna tsuki

1962 as Age: 23
あの空の果てに星はまたたく

あの空の果てに星はまたたく

1962 as Age: 23
The Escape

The Escape

1962 as Age: 23
Love School

Love School

1962 as Age: 23
South Pacific Waves Are High

South Pacific Waves Are High

1962 as Age: 22
No Image

Tale of a Company Boss 3

1961 as Nagashima Age: 22
Police Precinct Part 17

Police Precinct Part 17

1961 as Detective Nakagawa Age: 22
Man with a Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm

Man with a Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm

1961 as Age: 22
Man with the Funky Hat

Man with the Funky Hat

1961 as Age: 22
Invasion of the Neptune Men

Invasion of the Neptune Men

1961 as Tachibana - Scientist / Space Chief Age: 22
Drifting Detective: Black Wind in Harbor

Drifting Detective: Black Wind in Harbor

1961 as Age: 22
Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley

Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley

1961 as Goro Saionji Age: 22
Police Precinct: 15 Year Old Woman

Police Precinct: 15 Year Old Woman

1961 as Detective Nakagawa Age: 22
Police Department Part 15: Alibi

Police Department Part 15: Alibi

1961 as Age: 22