
Toshirō Mifune
Known for Acting · 178 credits
- Born
- 1920-04-01
- Died
- 1997-12-24
- Place of birth
- Qingdao, China
- Also known as
- Toshiroh Mifune · Mifune Toshirō
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (11)

Shōgun
1980
as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
V.I.P. Schaukel
1971
as Self
The 47 Ronins of Ako
1979
as Tachibana Sakon

Tuesday Suspense Theater
1981

Burning Mountain River
1984
as Otsuichi Amo

Epic Chushingura
1971
as Oishi Kuranosuke

Sekigahara
1981
as Sakon Shima

Ronin of the Wastelands
1972
as Kujuro Toge

Falcons of Edo
1978
as Kanbei Uchiyama

Ronin in a Lawless Town
1976
as Mr. Danna

The Brave Man Says Little
1983
Movies (167)

Seven Samurai
1954
as Kikuchiyo

High and Low
1963
as Kingo Gondo

Midway
1976
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Rashomon
1950
as Tajômaru

Throne of Blood
1957
as Taketoki Washizu

1941
1979
as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
2012
as (archive footage)

Red Sun
1971
as Kuroda Jubei

Red Beard
1965
as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")

Yojimbo
1961
as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai

The Idiot
1951
as Denkichi Akama

Sanjuro
1962
as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin

The Hidden Fortress
1958
as General Rokurota Makabe

Grand Prix
1966
as Izō Yamura

Port Arthur
1980
as Emperor Meiji

The Bad Sleep Well
1960
as Kôichi Nishi

Stray Dog
1949
as Det. Murakami

Shogun's Samurai
1978
as Yoshinao Tokugawa

Shadow of the Wolf
1992
as Kroomak

The Bushido Blade
1981
as Shogun's Commander

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
1954
as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

Scandal
1950
as Ichirô Aoye

Proof of the Man
1977
as Yohei Kori

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
1956
as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

The Gambling Samurai
1960
as Kunisada Chuji

Daredevil in the Castle
1961
as Mohei

Japan's Longest Day
1967
as War Minister General Korechika Anami

The Lower Depths
1957
as Sutekichi the Thief

Samurai Assassin
1965
as Tsuruchiyo Niiro

Legacy of the 500,000
1963
as Takeichi Matsuo

Samurai Rebellion
1967
as Isaburo Sasahara

The Quiet Duel
1949
as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki

The Sword of Doom
1966
as Toranosuke Shimada

Winter Kills
1979
as Keith

The Challenge
1982
as Toru Yoshida

The Life of Oharu
1952
as Katsunosuke

Inchon
1981
as Saito-San

Admiral Yamamoto
1968
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

The Three Treasures
1959
as Prince Yamato Takeru

Hell in the Pacific
1968
as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda

Drunken Angel
1948
as Matsunaga

The Sands of Kurobe
1968
as Kitagawa

Picture Bride
1995
as The Benshi

Incident at Blood Pass
1970
as Yojimbo

Princess from the Moon
1987
as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
The Day the Sun Rose
1968
as Kumaza

Battle Anthem
1983
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
1955
as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

Theater Of Life
1983
as Hyōtarō Aonari

Mifune: The Last Samurai
2016
as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)

The Rickshaw Man
1958
as Matsugorō Tomishima

Rise Against the Sword
1966
as Abare Gōemon

Battle of the Japan Sea
1969
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo

Journey of Honor
1991
as Ieyasu Tokugawa

Chûshingura
1962
as Genba Tawaraboshi

The Ambitious
1970
as Shojiro Goto

I Live in Fear
1955
as Kiichi Nakajima

The Militarists
1970
as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto

Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
1983
as Sanjuro Hinoki

A Man in the Storm
1957
as Saburō Watari

The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
as Tsuchiya Michinao

Sasaki Kojiro
1951
as Miyamoto Musashi

Tora-san Goes North
1987
as Junkichi Ueno

Samurai Banners
1969
as Kansuke Yamamoto

Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
1969
as Isami Kondo

Sanshiro Sugata
1965
as Shogoro Yano

The Storm of the Pacific
1960
as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi

Safari 5000
1969
as Yūichirō Takase

Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
1958
as Tasaburo

Snow Trail
1947
as Eijima

The Man Who Came to Port
1952
as Gorō Niinuma

Samurai Pirate
1963
as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]

Japanese Godfather: Ambition
1977
as Kosuke Oishi

The Eagle of the Pacific
1953
as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga

Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
1966
as Self

The Important Man
1961
as Ánimas Trujano

The Retreat from Kiska
1965
as Omura

Red Lion
1969
as Gonzo

Holiday in Tokyo
1958
as Tenkai's nephew Jirō

Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
1970
as Yojimbo/Sasa

All About Marriage
1958
as Acting teacher

Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
1983
as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô

Fort Graveyard
1965
as Sergeant Kosugi

The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
1979
as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"

Attack Squadron
1963
as Lt. Colonel Senda

The Demon Comes in Spring
1989
as Kukkune no jî

Saga of the Vagabonds
1959
as Rokuro Kai

Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
1978
as Kosuke Oishi

Desperado Outpost
1959
as Battalion Commander

A Wife's Heart
1956
as Kenkichi

Swift Current
1952
as Shunsuke Kosugi

Death of a Tea Master
1989
as Rikyu Sen-no

Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
1982
as Sanjuro Hinoki

Strawberry Road
1991
as Taoka

Sword for Hire
1952
as Sasa Hayatenosuke

All is Well
1955
as Daikichi Risshun

Pirates
1951
as Tora

Tokyo Sweetheart
1952
as Kurokawa

Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
1962
as Zhang Zhizhang

Domineering
1982
as Masao Tadokoro

The Mad Atlantic
1966
as Heihachirô Murakami

Yagyu Secret Scrolls
1957
as Tasaburō Kasumi

The Masterless 47
1960
as Kazuo Momoi

Elegy
1951
as Prosecutor Daisuke Toki

Paper Tiger
1975
as Ambassador Kagoyama

My Wonderful Yellow Car
1953
as Matsumura

The Last Gunfight
1960
as Detective Saburo Fujioka

Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
1981
as Tamon Umei

Vendetta of a Samurai
1952
as Mataemon Araki

Rebels on the High Sea
1956
as Matsuo Tokuzō

The Big Boss
1959
as Kashimura

The Masterless 47 – Part II
1961

Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
1982
as Tamon Umei

Man Against Man
1960
as Kaji

Deep River
1995
as Tsukada

Sunflower Girl
1953
as Ippei Hitachi

The Walking Major
1970
as Kinugasa Tadao

The Surf
1954
as Skipper of the Utashima-maru

The Life of a Horse Trader
1951
as Yonetaro Katayama

The Last Embrace
1953
as Shinkichi / Hayakawa
About Toshirō Mifune
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 re… With 178 credits spanning from 1947 to 2016, Toshirō Mifune has appeared in 167 films and 11 TV shows.
Fans searching for Toshirō Mifune movies, Toshirō Mifune filmography, or the latest projects starring Toshirō Mifune can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Toshirō Mifune Movies
- Seven Samurai (1954) — as Kikuchiyo
- High and Low (1963) — as Kingo Gondo
- Midway (1976) — as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
- Rashomon (1950) — as Tajômaru
- Throne of Blood (1957) — as Taketoki Washizu
Where to Watch Toshirō Mifune Films
Most Toshirō Mifune movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Toshirō Mifune, check our movies catalogue and browse page.