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