Mako Iwamatsu

Born: Kobe, Japan

Died: Somis, California

 

Mako Iwamastsu known simply as Mako was the son of famous children book Illustrators. His parents left Japan before WWII and Mako would join them when he was 18 years old. He joined the US Army and through this he discovered a love of acting. So he gave up the idea to be an architect instead to be an actor. His first role was in 1959 in a movie called Never So Few. Mako was a lover of the theater, tired of the roles that Asians were given he started his own theater group called East West Players with a few other people.

In 1962 he made his first television show appearance on the Lloyd Bridges Show, he would go on to make appearances in TV shows like McHale's Navy, M*A*S*H, The Incredible Hulk, The A-Team, Magnum P.I., etc. He also chose to do voice acting his credits include Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, What's New Scooby Doo, Duck Dodgers, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, etc.  

Mako earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in 1966's The Sand Pebbles. He played a Chinese man who spoke broken English. The critics hail his performance as expanding the roles that Asians could do in American film. 

Sadly he passed away after a long battle with cancer. Hollywood gave him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

Mako was born in Japan, but he became an American citizen. He fought to open doors for more Americans of Asian descent to have more roles on American film. He lived and died as an American actor we should honor his memory and continue to fight for the equal rights of our Invisible American brothers. 

 

Selected Film Appearances

The Sand Pebbles

Conan the Barbarian

Robocop 3

Highlander 3

Crying Freeman

Pearl Habor

Bulletproof Monk

Memoirs of a Geisha

 

Selected Television Appearances

McHale's Navy

I Dream of Jeannie

The Green Hornet

Kung Fu

M*A*S*H

Columbo

The Incredible Hulk

Frasier

Samurai Jack

Avatar: The Last Airbender