Birthday
1933/12/10
Day of death
2006/07/21 (72 years old)
Gender
Male
Place of Birth
Kobe, Japan
Also know as
Mako Iwamatsu, Mako Wakamatsu, Μάκο Ιβαμάτσου, Iwamatsu Mako, 岩松信, マコ岩松, ماکو
Mako was born in Kobe, Japan, the son of noted children's book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. His parents moved to the United States when he was a small child. He joined them there after World War II, in 1949, joining the military in the 1950s. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1956. When Mako first joined his parents in the USA, he studied architecture. During his military service, he discovered his theatrical talent, and trained at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Mako was mar...Read more
(1997) Seven Years in Tibet
as Kungo Tsarong
(2007) TMNT
as Splinter (voice)
(2001) Pearl Harbor
as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
(2007) Rise: Blood Hunter
as Poe
(1980) Hito Hata: Raise the Banner
as Oda
(1990) Pacific Heights
as Toshio Watanabe
(1993) RoboCop 3
as Kanemitsu
(1966) The Sand Pebbles
as Po-han
(1992) Sidekicks
as Mr. Lee
(2003) Bulletproof Monk
as Mr. Kojima
(1994) Highlander III: The Sorcerer
as Nakano
(1975) The Killer Elite
as Yuen Chung
(1993) Rising Sun
as Yoshida-san
(1984) Conan the Destroyer
as Akiro 'The Wizard'
(1982) Conan the Barbarian
as The Wizard / Narrator
(1988) Tucker: The Man and His Dream
as Jimmy
(1988) Silent Assassins
as Oyama
(1998) The Bird People in China
as Shen
(2005) Cages
as Tan
(1974) The Island at the Top of the World
as Oomiak
(1981) An Eye for an Eye
as James Chan
(1983) The Last Ninja
as Aitaro Sakura
(2000) Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
as Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)
(1970) The Challenge
as Yuro
(1981) Under the Rainbow
as Nakomuri
(1986) Kung Fu: The Movie
as The Manchu
(1986) Armed Response
as Akira Tanaka
(1980) The Big Brawl
as Herbert
(1971) Silence
as Kichijiro
(1996) Sworn to Justice
as Mr. Young
(1970) The Hawaiians
as Mun Ki
(2002) Cruel Game
as Straw Hat
(1986) P.O.W. The Escape
as Capt. Vinh
(1983) Girls of the White Orchid
as Mori
(1968) The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
as Calvin Coolidge Ishimura
(1994) Red Sun Rising
as Buntoro Iga
(1988) The Wash
as Nobu Matsumoto
(1969) The Great Bank Robbery
as Secret Agent Fong
(2000) Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
as The Wizard (archive footage)
(1981) The Bushido Blade
as Enjiro
(1997) The Sea Wolf
as ---
(1990) Fatal Mission
as Trang
(1995) Midnight Man
as Buun Som
(1974) Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders
as Tao Gan
(1989) An Unremarkable Life
as Max Chin
(1974) The Green Hornet
as Low Sing
(1992) Nightingale
as Narrator (voice)
(2006) The Slanted Screen
as Himself
(1994) A Dangerous Place
as Sensei
(1984) Hawaiian Heat
as Maj. Taro Oshira
(1975) Prisoners
as Sgt. Nguyen
(1959) Never So Few
as Soldier in Hospital
(1965) McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force
as Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)
(1996) Balance of Power
as Todo Matsumoto
(1983) Testament
as Mike
(1979) When Hell Was in Session
as Maj. Bai
(1976) Farewell to Manzanar
as Fukimoto
(1976) Wataridori: Birds of Passage
as narrator
(1972) Yokahama Mama
as Rooster (voice)
(1991) The Perfect Weapon
as Kim
(1990) Taking Care of Business
as Mr. Sakamoto
(1995) Crying Freeman
as Shudo Shimazaki
(1992) My Samurai
as ---
(1966) The Ugly Dachshund
as Kenji
(1976) Pacific Overtures
as Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
(1983) The Nightingale
as Gardener / Minister
(2017) Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie
as Aku (voice)
(1990) Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes
as Sgt. Moritaki
(1990) Murder in Paradise
as Capt. Kilalo
(1991) Strawberry Road
as Frank Machida
(1999) The Accomplice
as ---
(1999) Alegría: An Enchanting Fable
as Old Momo
(2005) Memoirs of a Geisha
as Sakamoto
(1970) Fools
as Psychiatrist
(1971) If Tomorrow Comes
as Tadashi
(1997) Riot
as Mr. Lee
(1966) The Time Tunnel
as Lt. Nakamura
(1971) Columbo
as Kanji Ousu
(1962) The Gallant Men
as ---
(2005) Avatar: The Last Airbender
as Iroh (voice)
(2000) The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
as ---
(1972) M*A*S*H
as Major Choi
(1979) Supertrain
as ---
(1963) Burke's Law
as Happy Tuava
(1958) 77 Sunset Strip
as Ito Nakayama
(1998) Martial Law
as ---
(1985) Spenser: For Hire
as ---
(1993) Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
as Li Sung
(1965) F Troop
as Samurai Warrior
(1972) Kung Fu
as Wong Ti Lu
(1983) The A-Team
as Pastry Chef
(1965) Gidget
as ---
(1979) The Facts of Life
as ---
(1965) The F.B.I.
as Yoshimura
(1969) Love, American Style
as Jack
(1965) I Dream of Jeannie
as Kato
(2002) Monk
as Master Zi
(1981) The Greatest American Hero
as Master of Flowers
(1968) Hawaii Five-O
as Kazuo Tahashi
(1981) Flamingo Road
as ---
(1993) Walker, Texas Ranger
as Dr. Henry Lee
(1969) Room 222
as ---
(1967) Mannix
as Tami Okada
(2004) Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
as ---
(1993) Frasier
as Sam Tanaka
(1993) Diagnosis: Murder
as Lee Moy
(1979) A Man Called Sloane
as Tanaka
(1995) Platypus Man
as Mr. Loo
(1985) The Equalizer
as Jimmy Thanarat
(1975) Wonder Woman
as Mr. Brown
(1995) JAG
as Ichiro Higashimori
(1982) Voyagers!
as ---
(1996) 7th Heaven
as Henry Muranaka
(1986) Lovejoy
as Toshiro Tanaka
(1967) Ironside
as Phil Tsang
(1975) Khan!
as ---
(2005) Maid in Akihabara
as ---
(1972) Anna and the King
as ---
(1988) Paradise
as Kao
(1987) Tour of Duty
as Tran
(1962) McHale's Navy
as ---
(1982) Bring 'Em Back Alive
as ---
(1976) Mr. T and Tina
as ---
(1965) The Big Valley
as Wong Lo
(2003) Black Sash
as ---
(1988) Supercarrier
as ---
(1984) Hawaiian Heat
as Maj. Taro Oshira
(1962) The Lloyd Bridges Show
as Akai Takahashi
(1966) The Green Hornet
as Low Sing
(1976) Visions
as ---
(2003) Lost at Home
as ---
(1999) The West Wing
as Dr. Yosh Takahashi
(2001) Samurai Jack
as Aku (voice)
(1956) Tony Awards
as Self - Nominee/Performer
(2003) Duck Dodgers
as Happy Cat (voice)
(2003) Duck Dodgers
as Happy Cat / Ah-Choo (voice)
(1963) Burke's Law
as Pete
(1982) Faerie Tale Theatre
as Gardener / Minister
(1962) Ensign O'Toole
as Yamada, Jr.
(1989) The Paradise Club
as Mr. Yamamoto
(1976) Quincy, M.E.
as John Moroshima
(1976) Quincy, M.E.
as Mr. Yamaguchi
(1964) Broadside
as Captain Osato
(1964) Broadside
as The Japanese Commander
(1963) Arrest and Trial
as Kyoto
(2002) What's New, Scooby-Doo?
as The Ancient One (voice)
(1965) The F.B.I.
as Angry Youth (uncredited)
(1993) Walker, Texas Ranger
as Edward Song
(1977) The Incredible Hulk
as Li Sung
(1962) McHale's Navy
as Lt. Sakawa
(1980) Magnum, P.I.
as Tozan