Tatsuya Nakadai
Acting
Born: Dec 13, 1932 — Died: Nov 08, 2025
From: Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
Credits: 30 titles
Biography
Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代 達矢, Nakadai Tatsuya; born Motohisa Nakadai; December 13, 1932 – November 8, 2025) was a Japanese actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema, he collaborated extensively with many of Japan's best-known and acclaimed directors. In his over seven decade career, he appeared in more than 160 films, and received numerous accolades. He was honored with a Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1996 and Japan's Order of Culture in 2015. Discovered on the streets of Tokyo by director Masaki Kobayashi, Nakadai rose to prominence starring in Kobayashi's films, with his breakthrough being the protagonist of the epic anti-war trilogy The Human Condition (1959–1961). He won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for his performance as the vengeful ronin in Harakiri (1962), a role he considered his finest. Nakadai collaborated on eleven films with Kobayashi—including Kwaidan (1964) and Samurai Rebellion (1967)—and five with Akira Kurosawa, most notably as the tragic warlord in Ran (1985), a performance that earned global acclaim. His other notable credits included Seven Samurai (1954), Yojimbo (1961), The Sword of Doom (1966), The Face of Another (1966), Goyokin (1969), Kagemusha (1980), and The Tale of the Princess …
Filmography
| Title | Character | Year | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu | Narrator | 2018 | — |
| Wish Upon a Star | Takanori Wakamiya | 2005 | — |
| Wicked City | Daishu | 1992 | 5.837 |
| 13 Assassins | 1990 | 7.0 | |
| Hachiko | Shujiro Ueno | 1987 | 7.781 |
| Ran | Lord Hidetora Ichimonji | 1985 | 8.0 |
| Final Yamato | Narrator | 1983 | 6.667 |
| Magistrate of the Floating World | 1981 | 6.0 | |
| Kagemusha | Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha | 1980 | 7.822 |
| Hunter in the Dark | Gomyo Kiyoemon | 1979 | 6.3 |
| The Wolves | Seji Iwahashi | 1971 | 7.523 |
| Tenchu! | Hanpeita Takechi | 1969 | 6.915 |
| Goyokin | Magobei Wakizaka | 1969 | 7.433 |
| Kill! | Genta | 1968 | 6.962 |
| Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die! | James Elfego | 1968 | 6.033 |
| Samurai Rebellion | Tatewaki Asano | 1967 | 8.231 |
| The Face of Another | Mr. Okuyama | 1966 | 7.763 |
| Kwaidan | Minokichi (segment "The Woman of … | 1965 | 7.722 |
| Illusion of Blood | Iyemon Tamiya | 1965 | 6.364 |
| Ant Hell War | 1964 | 9.0 | |
| High and Low | Chief Detective Tokura | 1963 | 8.359 |
| Sanjuro | Hanbei Muroto | 1962 | 7.948 |
| Harakiri | Hanshiro Tsugumo | 1962 | 8.4 |
| Yojimbo | Unosuke, gunfighter | 1961 | 8.078 |
| The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer | Kaji | 1961 | 8.403 |
| When a Woman Ascends the Stairs | Kenichi Komatsu | 1960 | 7.968 |
| The Human Condition I: No Greater Love | Kaji | 1959 | 8.132 |
| The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity | Kaji | 1959 | 8.222 |
| Odd Obsession | Kimura | 1959 | 6.235 |
| Phoenix | 1956 | 6.5 | |
| Known for | Acting |
| Credits | 30 |
| Born | 1932 |
| From | Meguro, Tokyo, Japan |