James Shigeta
  • Birthplace

    Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

  • Birthday
    June 17, 1929

    Deathday
    July 28, 2014

James Shigeta

James Saburo Shigeta (June 17, 1929 – July 28, 2014) was an American actor, singer, and musician of Japanese descent. He was noted for his roles in The Crimson Kimono (1959), Walk Like a Dragon (1960), Flower Drum Song (1961), Bridge to the Sun (1961), Die Hard (1988), and Mulan (1998). In 1960, he won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, along with three other actors.

In his early career, Shigeta often played romantic male lead roles, which were almost nonexistent for an actor of Asian descent during his time, making him a trailblazer in Asian American representation in media. The Goldsea Asian-American Daily magazine listed him as one of the "Most Inspiring Asian-Americans Of All Time".

Before his Hollywood career he found success as a pop singer and performer abroad, especially in Japan and Australia.

James Shigeta awards and nominations
Year Category Subcategory Info Movie/Tv Series
2022 Indie Short Fest Winner June Award Best Acting Ensemble (George Takei, James Shigeta, J.J. Silvia, Stan Woo, John Atkin, Wil Rodriguez, Steve Goodpaster, Teresa E. Victor, Jeffery Miller, Eliot, Bob Whiter, Jesse Tebbs, Zlatina Pacheva, Katie McKinney, John Benjamin Faust, David McCullars, Liam Collins, Brian Rivera, Alan Salopek, Victoria Fox) Yorktown: A Time to Heal
2022 Vegas Movie Awards Winner Award of Excellence Best Ensemble (George Takei, James Shigeta, J.J. Silvia, Stan Woo, John Atkin, Wil Rodriguez, Steve Goodpaster, Teresa E. Victor, Jeffery Miller, Eliot, Bob Whiter, Jesse Tebbs, Zlatina Pacheva, Katie McKinney, John Benjamin Faust, David McCullars, Liam Collins, Brian Rivera, Alan Salopek, Victoria Fox) Yorktown: A Time to Heal
Year Category Subcategory Info Movie/Tv Series
2022 Red Movie Award Nominee Honorable Mention Best Supporting Actor (James Shigeta) Yorktown: A Time to Heal
James Shigeta profile photos