Mako
Acting
Biography
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 married to actress Shizuko Hoshi with whom he had two daughters (both are actresses) and three grandchildren.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Mako
RoboCop 3
1993
Filmography
Acting (82)
2017
Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movieas Aku (voice)
8.1
2007
Rise: Blood Hunteras Poe
5.3
2007
TMNTas Splinter (voice)
6.2
2007
Cagesas Tan
4.8
2006
The Slanted Screenas Himself
10.0
2005
Memoirs of a Geishaas Sakamoto
7.6
2005
Genndy's Scrapbook: The Story of Genndy Tartakovskyas Self/Narrator
2005
Avatar: The Last Airbenderas Iroh
2003
Bulletproof Monkas Mr. Kojima
5.5
2002
Cruel Gameas Straw Hat
3.2
2001
Harsh Canvas: The Art & Life of Henry Sugimotoas Self - Voice of Henry Sugimoto
2001
Pearl Harboras Admiral Yamamoto
6.9
2000
Rugrats in Paris: The Movieas Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)
6.7
2000
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'as The Wizard (archive footage)
6.8
1999
The Accompliceas Santos
6.0
1999
Alegríaas Old Momo
6.6
1998
The Bird People in Chinaas Shen
7.2
1997
Seven Years in Tibetas Kungo Tsarong
7.2
1997
Riotas Mr. Lee
5.4
1997
5.7
1996
Sworn to Justiceas Mr. Young
5.3
1996
Balance of Poweras Todo Matsumoto
5.9
1995
Midnight Manas Buun Som
5.2
1995
Crying Freemanas Shudo Shimazaki
6.4
1994
Highlander III: The Sorcereras Nakano
4.7
1994
A Dangerous Placeas Sensei
6.3
1994
Red Sun Risingas Buntoro Iga
4.9
1993
Rising Sunas Yoshida-san
6.2
1993
RoboCop 3as Kanemitsu
4.9
1992
Sidekicksas Mr. Lee
5.3
1992
Nightingaleas Narrator (voice)
10.0
1992
5.7
1991
Strawberry Roadas Frank Machida
9.5
1991
The Perfect Weaponas Kim
6.4
1990
Pacific Heightsas Toshio Watanabe
6.3
1990
Taking Care of Businessas Mr. Sakamoto
6.3
1990
Hiroshima: Out of the Ashesas Sgt. Moritaki
6.2
1990
Fatal Missionas Trang
9.0
1990
Murder in Paradiseas Capt. Kilalo
5.0
1989
An Unremarkable Lifeas Max Chin
10.0
1988
The Washas Nobu Matsumoto
10.0
1988
Tucker: The Man and His Dreamas Jimmy
6.7
1988
Silent Assassinsas Oyama
5.4
1986
Armed Responseas Akira Tanaka
5.2
1986
P.O.W. The Escapeas Capt. Vinh
4.6
1986
Kung Fu: The Movieas The Manchu
5.3
1984
Hawaiian Heatas Maj. Taro Oshira
6.5
1984
Conan the Destroyeras Akiro 'The Wizard'
6.1
1983
Girls of the White Orchidas Mori
5.0
1983
Testamentas Mike
6.4
1983
The Last Ninjaas Aitaro Sakura
3.6
1983
The Nightingaleas Gardener / Minister
5.3
1982
Conan the Barbarianas The Wizard
6.8
1981
An Eye for an Eyeas James Chan
5.3
1981
Under the Rainbowas Nakomuri
5.1
1981
The Bushido Bladeas Enjiro
5.3
1980
1980
The Big Brawlas Herbert
5.9
1979
When Hell Was in Sessionas Maj. Bai
7.5
1976
Pacific Overturesas Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
9.0
1976
Farewell to Manzanaras Fukimoto
6.0
1976
Wataridori: Birds of Passageas Narrator
9.0
1975
The Killer Eliteas Yuen Chung
5.8
1975
Prisonersas Sgt. Nguyen
8.0
1975
Karate Senseias Narrator
1974
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murdersas Tao Gan
7.0
1974
The Island at the Top of the Worldas Oomiak
6.5
1974
The Green Hornetas Low Sing
6.7
1972
Yokahama Mamaas Rooster (voice)
5.3
1972
The Streets of San Franciscoas Kenji
7.3
1971
If Tomorrow Comesas Tadashi
7.5
1971
Silenceas Kichijiro
7.2
1970
Foolsas Psychiatrist
3.5
1970
The Hawaiiansas Mun Ki
5.5
1970
The Challengeas Yuro
7.0
1969
The Great Bank Robberyas Secret Agent Fong
6.6
1968
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrellas Calvin Coolidge Ishimura
6.3
1966
The Sand Pebblesas Po-han
7.2
1966
The Ugly Dachshundas Kenji
6.7
1965
McHale's Navy Joins the Air Forceas Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)
5.5
1959
Never So Fewas Soldier in Hospital
5.5