Mako (actor)
Makoto Iwamatsu (岩松 信, Iwamatsu Makoto, December 10, 1933 – July 21, 2006) was a Japanese and American actor, credited mononymously in almost all of his acting roles as Mako.
Mako | |
|---|---|
岩松 信 | |
Mako in 1986 | |
| Born | Makoto Iwamatsu December 10, 1933 |
| Died | July 21, 2006 (aged 72) Somis, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Mako Iwamatsu |
| Alma mater | Pasadena Playhouse |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–2006 |
| Spouse | Shizuko Hoshi |
| Children | 2 |
His role as Po-Han (his second credited role on film) in The Sand Pebbles (1966) saw him nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Other various roles included Oomiak "The Fearless One" in The Island at the Top of the World (1974), Akiro the Wizard in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984), and Kungo Tsarong in Seven Years in Tibet (1997). He was part of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's 1976 Broadway musical Pacific Overtures, which earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. He was also one of the founding members of East West Players.
Later in his career, he became well known for his voice acting roles, including Aku in the first four seasons of Samurai Jack (2001–2004), and Iroh in the first two seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2006). He died on July 21, 2006, at the age of 72 from esophageal cancer.