Sessue Hayakawa
Actor, Producer
June 10, 1889 — November 23, 1973 (84 years)
Sessue Hayakawa (June 10, 1889 – November 23, 1973) was a Japanese and American Issei (Japanese immigrant) actor who starred in American, Japanese, French, German, and British films. Hayakawa was the first and one of the few Asian actors to find stardom in the United States as well as Europe. Between the mid-1910s and the late 1920s, he was as well known as actors Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks. He was one of the highest paid stars of his time; making $5,000 a week in 1915, and $2 million a year via his own production company during the 1920s. He starred in over 80 movies and has two films in the U.S. National Film Registry. His international stardom transitioned both silent films and talkies.
Of his English-language films, Hayakawa is probably best known for his role as Colonel Saito in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he received a nomination for Academy Award Best Supporting Actor in 1957. He also appeared as the pirate leader in Disney's Swiss Family Robinson in 1960. In addition to his film acting career, Hayakawa was a theatre actor, film and theatre producer, film director, screenwriter, novelist, martial artist, and an ordained Zen master. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sessue Hayakawa, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Of his English-language films, Hayakawa is probably best known for his role as Colonel Saito in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he received a nomination for Academy Award Best Supporting Actor in 1957. He also appeared as the pirate leader in Disney's Swiss Family Robinson in 1960. In addition to his film acting career, Hayakawa was a theatre actor, film and theatre producer, film director, screenwriter, novelist, martial artist, and an ordained Zen master. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sessue Hayakawa, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Filmography
| 2019 | Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood · as (archive Footage) |
| 1966 | The Daydreamer · as The Mole (voice) |
| 1965 | Takôki · as Takeda Shingen |
| 1960 | Swiss Family Robinson · as Kuala, Pirate Chief |
| 1960 | Route 66 · as TakasukaOn Plex |
| 1960 | Hell to Eternity · as General Matsui |
| 1959 | Green Mansions · as Runi |
| 1958 | The Geisha Boy · as Mr. Sikita |
| 1957 | The Bridge on the River Kwai · as Col. Saito |
| 1957 | Wagon Train · as Sakae Ito |
| 1956 | Anger! Rikidozan · as Hirokichi Ohashi |
| 1955 | House of Bamboo · as Inspector Kito |
| 1953 | Higeki no shôgun: Yamashita Tomoyuki · as Tomoyuki Yamashita |
| 1953 | Onna kanja himon - Akô rôshi · as Sakon Tachibana |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show · as Japanese Officer |
| 1950 | Three Came Home · as Colonel Michio SugaOn Plex |
| 1949 | Tokyo Joe · as Baron Kimura |
| 1948 | Studio One · as Dr. Sato |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre · as Japanese Soldier |
| 1942 | Gambling Hell · as Ying Tchaï |
| 1938 | Tempête sur l'Asie · as Prinz Ling |
| 1937 | The Cheat · as Prince Hu-Long |
| 1937 | Atarashiki tsuchi · as Iwao Yamato |
| 1937 | Yoshiwara · as Ysamo, Kuli |
| 1931 | Daughter of the Dragon · as Ah Kee |
| 1924 | Sen Yan's Devotion · as Sen Yan |
| 1924 | The Great Prince Shan · as Prince Shan |
| 1920 | The Beggar Prince · as Nikki / Prince |
| 1919 | The Tong Man · as Luk Chen |
| 1919 | The Dragon Painter · as Tatsu - The Dragon Painter |
| 1919 | The Man Beneath · as Dr. Chindi Ashutor |
| 1918 | His Birthright · as Yukio |
| 1917 | The Secret Game · as Nara-Nara |
| 1915 | The Cheat · as Hishuru Tori [haka Arakau] |
| 1914 | The Typhoon · as Tokorama |
| 1914 | The Wrath of the Gods · as Lord Yamaki |
| 2020 | Asian Americans · as Self |
| 2007 | Why Be Good? Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 1971 | The 43rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1965 | The Love Goddesses · as Self |
| 1961 | Hollywood: The Golden Years · as Self |
| 1960 | Here's Hollywood · as Self |
| 1958 | The 30th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1957 | The Mike Wallace Interview · as Self - Actor |
| 1956 | The Steve Allen Show · as Self - Guest |
| 1952 | House Party · as Self |
| 1931 | Around the World with Douglas Fairbanks · as Self |
| 1919 | |
| 1918 |
| 1918 | His Birthright · as Story |