James Shigeta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Shigeta
Shigeta in a publicity photo for Bridge to the Sun (1961)
Born	James Saburo Shigeta (1929-06-17)June 17, 1929 Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.
Died	July 28, 2014(2014-07-28) (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	1950–2009
Musical career
Genres	Traditional pop, big band, jazz
Instruments	Vocals piano
Labels	Toho Records, Choreo Records, Decca, Ava Records
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	Hawaii National Guard Marine Corps
Years of service	1951–1954
Rank	Staff sergeant

James Saburo Shigeta (Japanese: 繁田 三郎) (June 17, 1929 – July 28, 2014) was an American actor and singer. He was famous for his roles in movies like The Crimson Kimono (1959), Flower Drum Song (1961), Die Hard (1988), and Mulan (1998). In 1960, he won a Golden Globe Award for being a promising new actor.

James Shigeta was a pioneer for Asian American actors. Early in his career, he often played romantic lead roles. This was very rare for actors of Asian descent at that time. Because of this, he helped open doors for others in Hollywood. The Goldsea Asian-American Daily magazine even called him one of the "Most Inspiring Asian-Americans Of All Time."

Before becoming a Hollywood star, he was a very successful pop singer. He was especially popular in Japan and Australia.

Early Life

James Shigeta was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1929. He was a Sansei, which means he was a third-generation Japanese-American. He graduated from President Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1947. Later, he studied drama at New York University.

After finishing his military training (ROTC), he joined the Hawaii National Guard. In 1951, he joined the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He served for two and a half years and became a Staff Sergeant.

Career

Singing Career

In 1950, James Shigeta won first prize on a TV talent show called The Original Amateur Hour. He started his singing career in Los Angeles, working with Hawaiian singer Charles K.L. Davis. They performed at popular places like the Mocambo nightclub.

During the Korean War, Shigeta entertained troops in California as a Marine. After the war, he went to Japan. There, he was hired by Toho Studios. He became a huge star in Japan, known as "The Frank Sinatra of Japan." He sang on radio, TV, stage, and made recordings.

In 1958, Shigeta was the main male singer in a big show called Cherry Blossom Show. This show traveled from Tokyo to Australia and was very popular. One reviewer said he had "matinee idol good looks and a soothing baritone voice."

Shigeta returned to the United States to sing on The Dinah Shore Show. By 1959, he was the star of a show called Holiday in Japan in Las Vegas. In 1969, he toured the U.S. in the main role of the musical The King and I.

Acting Career

As movie roles became available, James Shigeta took acting lessons to improve his skills.

His first big movie role in the U.S. was in 1959. He played Detective Joe Kojaku in The Crimson Kimono. This movie was special because his character was an Asian American detective played by an Asian American actor. He spoke like a regular American, which was new for the 1950s. Before this, Asian characters were often played by non-Asian actors who spoke in a stereotypical way.

In 1960, he starred in Walk Like a Dragon as Cheng Lu. This character was a young Chinese man in the Old West who didn't want Chinese people to be treated as less important than white people. Shigeta had to learn how to ride a horse in a Chinese style for this role.

In 1961, he co-starred in the romantic comedy Cry for Happy. That same year, he played Wang Ta in the movie version of the famous musical Flower Drum Song. He also starred in Bridge to the Sun, a true story about a mixed-race marriage during World War II. This was a very rare and important movie for its time.

Shigeta appeared in many TV shows. He started with Alcoa Premiere in 1961 and continued acting on TV until Avatar: The Last Airbender in 2005. In 1965, he was in Paradise, Hawaiian Style with Elvis Presley. He also worked with Raymond Burr in Perry Mason and Ironside.

From 1969 to 1972, he had a regular role as Doctor Osaka on the TV show Medical Center. In 1976, he played the famous Japanese admiral Chūichi Nagumo in the movie Midway. In 1988, he played Joseph Takagi in the action movie Die Hard. He also lent his voice to Disney's animated film Mulan in 1998.

Awards and Legacy

In 1960, James Shigeta won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer. He shared this award with three other actors: George Hamilton, Troy Donahue, and Barry Coe.

In 2005, an Asian-American theatre group called East West Players gave Shigeta a "Visionary Award." This award recognized his important contributions to the arts.

In 2006, Shigeta was interviewed for a documentary called The Slanted Screen. This film explored how Asian and Asian American men were shown in Hollywood movies.

Death

James Shigeta passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 28, 2014. He was 85 years old. His funeral was held in Los Angeles, and he was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: James Shigeta para niños