Mako Iwamatsu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mako
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|---|---|
| Born |
Makoto Iwamatsu
December 10, 1933 |
| Died | July 21, 2006 (aged 72) |
| Cause of death | Esophageal cancer |
| Spouse(s) | Shizuko Hoshi (?–2006, his death) |
Mako Iwamatsu (born Makoto Iwamatsu; December 10, 1933 – July 21, 2006) was a Japanese-American actor. Many people knew him simply as Mako. He was famous for his roles in many movies and TV shows.
Mako voiced popular characters like Aku in Samurai Jack. He was also the voice of Master Splinter in the movie TMNT. Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender will remember him as the voice of Iroh. He also played Mr. Lee in the movie Sidekicks.
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About Mako's Early Life
Mako was born in Kobe, Japan. His father, Taro Yashima, was a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. Mako's parents moved to the United States when he was very young.
Mako joined them in the U.S. in 1949, after World War II. In the 1950s, he joined the military. He became an American citizen in 1956. When he first came to the U.S., Mako studied architecture. While in the military, he found his love for acting. He then trained at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.
Mako was married to actress Shizuko Hoshi. They had two daughters, who also became actresses. He also had three grandchildren.
Mako's Acting Career
Mako had a long and successful career in both movies and television. He often played characters that showed his unique talent. He was known for bringing depth and wisdom to his roles.
Famous Movie Roles
Mako appeared in many memorable films. He played a wise wizard in Conan the Barbarian (1982). He returned for the sequel, Conan the Destroyer (1984). He also had a role in Seven Years in Tibet (1997). Later, he was in Pearl Harbor (2001) and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005).
Popular TV Shows and Voice Acting
Mako was a very busy actor on television too. He appeared in classic shows like M*A*S*H and The A-Team. He also lent his voice to many animated series.
His voice roles are especially popular with kids. He voiced Aku, the main villain, in Samurai Jack. He was also the original voice of Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender. His voice brought wisdom and warmth to these characters. He also voiced Splinter in the TMNT movie.
Mako's Passing
Mako passed away in Somis, California on July 21, 2006. He was 72 years old. He died from esophageal cancer.
Just one day before he passed, Mako had finished recording his lines for the movie TMNT. He voiced the character of Splinter. The director of the film, Kevin Munroe, confirmed that Mako had completed his work. The finished movie was dedicated to Mako.
The TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender also honored Mako. An episode called "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" (from the second season) included a special dedication. This was because Mako was the voice of Iroh for the first two seasons. He was also remembered in a special tribute at the 79th Academy Awards.
