Toshirō Mifune (April 1, 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.

Filmography

• 2012Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen — (archive footage)
• 1995Deep River — Tsukada
• 1995Picture Bride — The Benshi
• 1992Shadow of the Wolf — Kroomak
• 1991Journey of Honor — Ieyasu Tokugawa
• 1991Strawberry Road — Taoka
• 1990Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode — Nagao Tamekage
• 1989Death of a Tea Master — Rikyu Sen-no
• 1989The Demon Comes in Spring — Kukkune no jî
• 1989cf Girl — Shūichirō Hase
• 1987Princess from the Moon — Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
• 1987The Retired Samurai — Hikozaemon Ōkubo
• 1987The Shatterer — Murai
• 1987Tora-san Goes North — Junkichi Ueno
• 1986The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai — Kyūbei Matsufuji
• 1985No More God, No More Love — Kōzō Kanzaki
• Burning Mountain River — Otsuichi Amo
• 1984Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire — Shūsai Kondō
• 1984The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel — Fisherman
• 1983Battle Anthem — Admiral Heihachiro Togo
• 1983Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell — Sanjuro Hinoki
• 1983Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl — Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
• 1983Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass — Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
• 1983Secret of the Forbidden Valley
• The Brave Man Says Little
• 1983The Women of Osaka Castle — Tokugawa Ieyasu
• 1983Theater Of Life — Hyōtarō Aonari
• 1982Domineering — Masao Tadokoro
• 1982Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood — Sanjuro Hinoki
• 1982Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2 — Tamon Umei
• 1982The Challenge — Toru Yoshida
• 1982The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
• 1981Inchon — Saito-San
• 1981Lowly Ronin — Sanjuro Hinoki
• Sekigahara — Sakon Shima
• 1981Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1 — Tamon Umei
• 1981The Bushido Blade — Shogun's Commander
• Tuesday Suspense Theater
• 1980Port Arthur — Emperor Meiji
• 1980Shogun — Lord Yoshi Toranaga
• Shōgun — Lord Yoshi Toranaga
• 19791941 — Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
• 1979Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police — Sadanobu Matsudaira, Associate Producer
• The 47 Ronins of Ako — Tachibana Sakon
• 1979The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi — Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
• 1979Winter Kills — Keith
• Falcons of Edo — Kanbei Uchiyama
• 1978Japanese Godfather: Conclusion — Kosuke Oishi
• 1978Lord Mito — Sakuzaemon Okumura
• 1978Love and Faith — Taiko Hideyoshi
• 1978Shag — Captain Takeo Murata, Executive Producer
• 1978Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy — Yoshinao Tokugawa
• 1978The Fall of Ako Castle — Tsuchiya Michinao
• 1977Japanese Godfather: Ambition — Kosuke Oishi
• 1977Proof of the Man — Yohei Kori
• 1976Midway — Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
• Ronin in a Lawless Town — Mr. Danna
• 1975Paper Tiger — Ambassador Kagoyama
• Ronin of the Wastelands — Kujuro Toge, Associate Producer
• Epic Chushingura — Oishi Kuranosuke
• 1971Morning for Two — Producer
• 1971Red Sun — Kuroda Jubei
• 1970Incident at Blood Pass — Yojimbo, Producer
• 1970The Ambitious — Shojiro Goto
• 1970The Militarists — Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
• 1970The Walking Major — Kinugasa Tadao
• 1970Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo — Yojimbo/Sasa
• 1969Battle of the Japan Sea — Admiral Heihachiro Togo
• 1969Red Lion — Gonzo, Producer
• 1969Safari 5000 — Yūichirō Takase
• 1969Samurai Banners — Kansuke Yamamoto, Producer
• 1969Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor — Isami Kondo, Producer
• 1968Admiral Yamamoto — Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
• 1968Hell in the Pacific — Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
• 1968The Day the Sun Rose — Kumaza
• 1968The Sands of Kurobe — Kitagawa
• 1967Japan's Longest Day — War Minister General Korechika Anami
• 1967Samurai Rebellion — Isaburo Sasahara, Producer
• 1966Adventure in Kigan Castle — Osami, Associate Producer
• 1966Grand Prix — Izō Yamura
• 1966Rise Against the Sword — Abare Gōemon
• 1966The Mad Atlantic — Heihachirô Murakami, Executive Producer
• 1966The Sword of Doom — Toranosuke Shimada
• 1965Fort Graveyard — Sergeant Kosugi, Associate Producer
• 1965Red Beard — Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
• 1965Samurai Assassin — Tsuruchiyo Niiro
• 1965Sanshiro Sugata — Shogoro Yano
• 1965The Retreat from Kiska — Omura
• 1964Whirlwind — Lord Akashi
• 1963Attack Squadron — Lt. Colonel Senda
• 1963High and Low — Kingo Gondo
• 1963Legacy of the 500,000 — Takeichi Matsuo, Director, Associate Producer
• 1963Samurai Pirate — Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
• 1962Chûshingura — Genba Tawaraboshi
• 1962Sanjuro — Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
• 1962Tatsu — Tatsu
• 1962Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong — Zhang Zhizhang
• 1961Daredevil in the Castle — Mohei
• 1961The Important Man — Ánimas Trujano
• 1961The Masterless 47 – Part II
• 1961The Youth and His Amulet — Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
• 1961Yojimbo — Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
• 1960Man Against Man — Kaji
• 1960The Bad Sleep Well — Kôichi Nishi
• 1960The Gambling Samurai — Kunisada Chuji
• 1960The Last Gunfight — Detective Saburo Fujioka
• 1960The Masterless 47 — Kazuo Momoi
• 1960The Storm of the Pacific — Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
• 1959Desperado Outpost — Battalion Commander
• 1959Saga of the Vagabonds — Rokuro Kai
• 1959Samurai Saga — Heihachiro Komaki
• 1959The Big Boss — Kashimura
• 1959The Three Treasures — Prince Yamato Takeru
• 1958All About Marriage — Acting teacher
• 1958Holiday in Tokyo — Tenkai's nephew Jirō
• 1958The Hidden Fortress — General Rokurota Makabe
• 1958The Rickshaw Man — Matsugorō Tomishima
• 1958Theater of Life
• 1958Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II — Tasaburo
• 1958Yaji and Kita on the Road — Toshinoshin Taya
• 1957A Dangerous Hero — Kawada
• 1957A Man in the Storm — Saburō Watari
• 1957Downtown — Yoshio Tsuruishi
• 1957Good Luck to These Two — Toshio Maruyama
• 1957The Lower Depths — Sutekichi the Thief
• 1957Throne of Blood — Taketoki Washizu
• 1957Yagyu Secret Scrolls — Tasaburō Kasumi
• 1956A Wife's Heart — Kenkichi
• 1956Rainy Night Duel — Masahiko Koseki
• 1956Rebels on the High Sea — Matsuo Tokuzō
• 1956Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island — Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
• 1956Scoundrel — Kanji
• 1956Settlement of Love — Shuntarō Ōhira
• 1956The Underworld — Chief Inspector Kumada
• 1955A Man Among Men — "Buick" Maki
• 1955All is Well — Daikichi Risshun
• 1955All is Well 2 — Daikichi Risshun
• 1955I Live in Fear — Kiichi Nakajima
• 1955No Time for Tears — Mitsuo Yano
• 1955Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple — Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
• 1954Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto — Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
• 1954Seven Samurai — Kikuchiyo
• 1954The Black Fury — Eiichi Tsuda
• 1954The Surf — Skipper of the Utashima-maru
• 1953My Wonderful Yellow Car — Matsumura
• 1953Sunflower Girl — Ippei Hitachi
• 1953The Eagle of the Pacific — 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
• 1953The Last Embrace — Shinkichi / Hayakawa
• 1952Foghorn — Chiyokichi
• 1952Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
• 1952Swift Current — Shunsuke Kosugi
• 1952Sword for Hire — Sasa Hayatenosuke
• 1952The Life of Oharu — Katsunosuke
• 1952The Man Who Came to Port — Gorō Niinuma
• 1952Tokyo Sweetheart — Kurokawa
• 1952Vendetta of a Samurai — Mataemon Araki
• 1951Beyond Love and Hate — Gorō Sakata
• 1951Elegy — Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
• 1951Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre — Kenji Kawakami
• 1951Pirates — Tora
• 1951Sasaki Kojiro — Miyamoto Musashi
• 1951The Idiot — Denkichi Akama
• 1951The Life of a Horse Trader — Yonetaro Katayama
• 1951Who Knows a Woman's Heart — Mizuno
• 1950Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka — Teisaku Nagasawa
• 1950Escape from Prison — Shinkichi
• 1950Rashomon — Tajômaru
• 1950Scandal — Ichirô Aoye
• 1950Wedding Ring — Takeshi Ema
• 1949Jakoman and Tetsu — Tetsu
• 1949Stray Dog — Det. Murakami
• 1949The Quiet Duel — Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
• 1948Drunken Angel — Matsunaga
• 1947Snow Trail — Eijima
• 1947These Foolish Times — Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss

Appearances as themselves (4)

• 2016Mifune: The Last Samurai — Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
• 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress' — Self
• V.I.P. Schaukel — Self
• 1966Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions — Self