Haruo Nakajima
Haruo Nakajima | |
---|---|
Nakajima in 2013 | |
Native name | 中島 春雄 |
Born |
Yamagata, Japan | January 1, 1929
Died | August 7, 2017 88) | (aged
Cause of death | Pneumonia |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1949–73 |
Known for | Godzilla |
Haruo Nakajima (中島 春雄 Nakajima Haruo, January 1, 1929 – August 7, 2017)[1] was a Japanese actor best known for playing Godzilla in twelve consecutive films, starting from the original Godzilla (1954) until Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972). He also played various other giant monsters in Kaiju films, including Mothra and The War of the Gargantuas and also appeared in a minor role in the Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai.
Career
Nakajima was born in Yamagata, Japan. His first credited role in a motion picture was in the 1952 film Sword for Hire.[1] He began his career as a stunt actor in samurai films and he acted in a small role in the 1954 film Seven Samurai, portraying a bandit.[1][2][3]
He was considered by many to be the best suit actor in the long history of the Godzilla franchise.[4] At the time, Toho's visual effects director, Eiji Tsuburaya considered him completely invaluable,[4] and he was employed to essay the roles of most of the kaiju (Japanese monsters) during his career as a suit actor. After 24 years, he retired from suit acting upon completion of Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), when the studio cycled him out of their contract actor system, after it split into several subsidiaries in 1970. He stayed employed by Toho for several years, and was reportedly transferred to a job at its bowling alley, located on the now defunct studio lot.[5][6][7]
Beginning in the late 1990s, Nakajima made a series of personal appearances at various Japanese monster-themed conventions. He appeared at the Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank, California in April 2011.[8] His Japanese-language autobiography, 『怪獣人生 元祖ゴジラ俳優・中島春雄』 (Monster Life: Haruo Nakajima, the Original Godzilla Actor), was released in 2010.[9][10]
Death
On August 7, 2017, several media outlets reported that Nakajima had died, at the age of 88.[10][11][12] The following day, on August 8, his daughter Sonoe Nakajima confirmed that he had died of pneumonia.[2] In 2018, asteroid 110408 Nakajima was named in his memory.
Selected filmography
Films
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1952 | Sword for Hire | First credited role in a film.[1] |
1953 | Eagle of the Pacific | Acting role.[10] |
1954 | Seven Samurai | Portrayed a bandit.[2] |
1954 | Godzilla | Portrayed Godzilla.[10] |
1954 | The Invisible Avenger | Acting role.[13] |
1955 | Godzilla Raids Again | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1956 | Rodan | Portrayed Rodan.[13][14] |
1957 | The Mysterians | Portrayed Moguera.[13] |
1958 | The H-Man | Portrayed a sailor.[14] |
1958 | Varan the Unbelievable | Portrayed Varan.[13] |
1958 | The Hidden Fortress | Acting role.[13] |
1960 | The Human Vapor | Acting role.[13] |
1961 | The Story of Osaka Castle | Acting role.[3] |
1961 | Yojimbo | Acting role.[13] |
1961 | Mothra | Portrayed the larval form of Mothra.[14][15] |
1962 | Gorath | Portrayed Maguma. |
1962 | King Kong vs. Godzilla | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1963 | Matango | Acting role.[13] |
1963 | Atragon | Acting role.[13] |
1964 | Mothra vs. Godzilla | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1964 | Dogora | Acting role.[13] |
1964 | Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1965 | Frankenstein Conquers the World | Portrayed Baragon.[13][14] |
1965 | Invasion of Astro-Monster | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1966 | The War of the Gargantuas | Portrayed Gaira.[13][14] |
1966 | Ebirah, Horror of the Deep | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1967 | King Kong Escapes | Portrayed King Kong.[15] |
1967 | Son of Godzilla | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1968 | Destroy All Monsters | Portrayed Godzilla and Baragon.[12] |
1969 | Latitude Zero | Acting role.[13] |
1969 | All Monsters Attack | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1970 | Space Amoeba | Portrayed various monster roles.[13] |
1971 | Godzilla vs. Hedorah | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1972 | Godzilla vs. Gigan | Portrayed Godzilla.[12] |
1973 | Tidal Wave | Portrayed a chauffeur.[16] |
Television
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1966 | Ultra Q | Acting role.[13] |
1966–67 | Ultraman | Portrayed various monster roles.[14] |
1967–69 | Ultra Seven | Acting role, portrayed various monster roles.[13] |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Yuri Kageyama (August 8, 2017). "Original Godzilla suit actor Haruo Nakajima dies". BBC News. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Haruo Nakajima, who played the original 1954 Godzilla, dies". Associated Press. August 8, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 Galbraith IV, Stuart (16 May 2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. p. 101. ISBN 978-0810860049. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 Ryfle, Steve (1998). Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G". ECW Press. pp. 179–180. ISBN 9781550223484.
- ↑ Russell Goldman (August 8, 2017). "Haruo Nakajima, the First Actor to Play Godzilla, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Christos Tsirbas (August 7, 2017). "Original Godzilla Actor Haruo Nakajima Passes Away". CBR.com. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Merrit Kennedy (August 8, 2017). "Haruo Nakajima, The Original Godzilla Actor, Dies". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ↑ Ryan Scott (August 7, 2017). "Original Godzilla Man-In-Suit Actor Haruo Nakajima Dies at 88". MovieWeb. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ David Moyes (August 7, 2017). "Original Godzilla Actor Haruo Nakajima Dead At 88". HuffPost. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Nyren, Erin (August 7, 2017). "Haruo Nakajima, Man Inside Godzilla Suit, Dies at 88". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ Katie Rife (August 7, 2017). "R.I.P. Haruo Nakajima, the original man in the Godzilla suit". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 John Squires (August 7, 2017). "R.I.P. Original 'Godzilla' Suit Actor Haruo Nakajima". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Daniel Baldwin (August 7, 2017). "Haruo Nakajima (1929–2017), the Man Who Was Godzilla". Cinema Runner. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kyle Anderson (August 7, 2017). "Haruo Nakajimi, First Actor to Play GODZILLA, Has Died at 88". Nerdist Industries. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 Gwilym Mumford (August 8, 2017). "Haruo Nakajima, actor who played the original Godzilla, dies aged 88". The Guardian. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Kate Feldman (August 8, 2017). "Haruo Nakajima, original Godzilla actor, dead at 88". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haruo Nakajima. |
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Haruo Nakajima |
- Haruo Nakajima on IMDb
- Roberto, John Rocco. Shigeko Kojima (trans.) Winter 1999. "An Interview with Godzilla: Hauro Nakajima", Originally published in Kaiju Fan.
- Biography of Haruo Nakajima in comic book format