Utaemon Ichikawa
Japanese actor
Died when: 92 years 203 days (1110 months)Star Sign: Pisces
Utaemon Ichikawa (?? ????, Ichikawa Utaemon, 25 February 1907 – 16 September 1999) was a Japanese film actor famous for starring roles in jidaigeki from the 1920s to the 1960s.
Trained in kabuki from childhood, he made his film debut in 1925 at Makino Film Productions under Shozo Makino.Quickly gaining popularity, he followed the example of Makino stars such as Tsumasaburo Bando in starting his own independent production company, Utaemon Ichikawa Productions, in 1927.
It was there he first began the "Idle Vassal" (Hatamoto taikutsu otoko) series, which would become his signature role.When his company folded in 1936 as sound film came to the fore, he moved to Shinko Kinema and then Daiei Studios before helping form the Toei Company after World War II.
He served on the board of directors along with fellow samurai star Chiezo Kataoka.Utaemon appeared in over 300 films during his career.
His son, Kin'ya Kitaoji, is also a famous actor in film and television.
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