Biography
Gen Shimizu (1907–1972) was a Japanese actor. Born in Tokyo, he studied commerce at Chūō University, worked in his father’s advertising agency, and joined a shingeki theatre troupe in 1937. He made his screen debut in 1940 and appeared in nearly 120 films over three decades.
Shimizu is known for supporting roles in Akira Kurosawa films, including Stray Dog (1949) as Police Inspector Nakajima, Seven Samurai (1954) as the Samurai Who Kicks Farmers, Throne of Blood (1957) as a Washizu samurai, Yojimbo (1961) as Magotaro, The Bad Sleep Well (1960) as Managing Director Miura, and High and Low (1963) as the Chief Physician. He also appeared in Sanjuro (1962), I Live in Fear (1955), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) as Minister of Defense, and Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) as Commander of Defense Forces.
