Japanese character actor Takashi Shimura was one of the finest film actors of the 20th century and a leading member of the "stock company" of master director 'Akira Kurosawa' . He died in 1982, a reluctant icon of Japanese cinema.
One of the few actors to reprise a role in the Godzilla ( Gojira ) series. He reprised his role of Doctor Yemane in Gojira no gyakush (aka Godzillas Counterattack or Gigatis: the Fire Monster).
Although he was not Akira Kurosawa s best-known actor (Toshir Mifune had this honor), Shimura appeared in more Kurosawa films than Mifune, totaling 19. However (especially in later years), many of his characters had smaller, supporting roles.
One of the most versatile character actors in the world cinema, he believably played the weak, timid and elderly clerk Watanabe in Ikiru (1952) . Then, also believably, two years later he played the powerful, tough and skillful samurai Shimada, the leader of the mercenary band, in Shichinin no samurai .
