---
name: "Mako"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mako"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 December 1933"
died: "21 July 2006"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T04:42:01.016073+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Mako

Actor. Born 10 December 1933 in Kobe, Japan. Died 21 July 2006.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 December 1933, Kobe, Japan
- **Died:** 21 July 2006
- **Active:** 1966–1993
- **Also known as:** Mako Iwamatsu, Mako Wakamatsu, Μάκο Ιβαμάτσου, Iwamatsu Mako, 岩松信, マコ岩松, ماکو
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 66 (1), 1970s 85 (1), 1990s 88 (1)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Family 1, War 1, War & Politics 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $20m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mako_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q318885, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0538683/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10134

## Biography

Mako, born Makoto Iwamatsu, was a Japanese-American actor. He was born in Kobe, Japan, on 10 December 1933 and died in Somis, California, on 21 July 2006.

He played Po-han in the 1966 film *The Sand Pebbles*, a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1965 he co-founded East West Players, the first Asian American theatre company in the United States, and served as its artistic director. He trained at the Pasadena Playhouse after serving in the US Army and appeared on Broadway in the leading role in Stephen Sondheim’s *Pacific Overtures*, receiving a Tony Award nomination.

His film roles include Akiro the Wizard in *Conan the Barbarian* (1982) and *Conan the Destroyer* (1984), and voice work as Iroh in *Avatar: The Last Airbender* (2005). He was married to actress Shizuko Hoshi.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, latimes.com, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Frasier* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Sam Tanaka — [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), Fi1m 85, as Major Choi — [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *The Sand Pebbles* (1966), Fi1m 66, as Po-han — [page](https://film.one/film/the-sand-pebbles.md)

## Complete filmography (146)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie* (2017), as Aku (voice)
- *Rise: Blood Hunter* (2007), as Poe
- *TMNT* (2007), as Splinter (voice) · In Memory Of
- *Cages* (2007), as Tan
- *Memoirs of a Geisha* (2005), as Sakamoto
- *Maid in Akihabara* (2005), series, Actor
- *Avatar: The Last Airbender* (2005), series, as Iroh (voice)
- *Avatar: The Last Airbender* (2005), as Iroh
- *Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!* (2004), series, Actor
- *Duck Dodgers* (2003), series, as Happy Cat (voice), Happy Cat / Ah-Choo (voice)
- *Lost at Home* (2003), series, Actor
- *Bulletproof Monk* (2003), as Mr. Kojima
- *Cruel Game* (2002), as Straw Hat
- *What's New, Scooby-Doo?* (2002), series, as The Ancient One (voice)
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Master Zi
- *Samurai Jack* (2001), series, as Aku (voice)
- *Pearl Harbor* (2001), as Admiral Yamamoto
- *Rugrats in Paris: The Movie* (2000), as Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)
- *The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne* (2000), series, Actor
- *Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'* (2000), as The Wizard (archive footage)
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Dr. Yosh Takahashi — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *The Accomplice* (1999), as Santos
- *Alegría* (1999), as Old Momo
- *Martial Law* (1998), series, as Master Reng
- *The Bird People in China* (1998), as Shen
- *Seven Years in Tibet* (1997), as Kungo Tsarong
- *Riot* (1997), as Mr. Lee
- *The Sea Wolf* (1997), Actor
- *Sworn to Justice* (1996), as Mr. Young
- *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Henry Muranaka
- *Balance of Power* (1996), as Todo Matsumoto
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Ichiro Higashimori
- *Midnight Man* (1995), as Buun Som
- *Crying Freeman* (1995), as Shudo Shimazaki
- *Platypus Man* (1995), series, as Mr. Loo
- *Highlander III: The Sorcerer* (1994), as Nakano
- *A Dangerous Place* (1994), as Sensei
- *Red Sun Rising* (1994), as Buntoro Iga
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Lee Moy
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Sam Tanaka — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Rising Sun* (1993), as Yoshida-san
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Dr. Henry Lee, Edward Song
- *Kung Fu: The Legend Continues* (1993), series, as Li Sung
- *RoboCop 3* (1993), as Kanemitsu
- *Sidekicks* (1992), as Mr. Lee
- *Nightingale* (1992), as Narrator (voice)
- *My Samurai* (1992), Actor
- *Strawberry Road* (1991), as Frank Machida
- *The Perfect Weapon* (1991), as Kim
- *Pacific Heights* (1990), as Toshio Watanabe
- *Taking Care of Business* (1990), as Mr. Sakamoto
- *Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes* (1990), as Sgt. Moritaki
- *Fatal Mission* (1990), as Trang
- *Murder in Paradise* (1990), as Capt. Kilalo
- *An Unremarkable Life* (1989), as Max Chin
- *The Paradise Club* (1989), series, as Mr. Yamamoto
- *Paradise* (1988), series, as Kao
- *The Wash* (1988), as Nobu Matsumoto
- *Tucker: The Man and His Dream* (1988), as Jimmy
- *Silent Assassins* (1988), as Oyama
- *Supercarrier* (1988), series, Actor
- *Tour of Duty* (1987), series, as Tran
- *Armed Response* (1986), as Akira Tanaka
- *P.O.W. The Escape* (1986), as Capt. Vinh
- *Kung Fu: The Movie* (1986), as The Manchu
- *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Toshiro Tanaka
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Jimmy Thanarat
- *Hawaiian Heat* (1984), series, as Maj. Taro Oshira
- *Hawaiian Heat* (1984), as Maj. Taro Oshira
- *Conan the Destroyer* (1984), as Akiro 'The Wizard'
- *Girls of the White Orchid* (1983), as Mori
- *Testament* (1983), as Mike
- *The Last Ninja* (1983), as Aitaro Sakura
- *The Nightingale* (1983), as Gardener / Minister
- *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Pastry Chef
- *Voyagers!* (1982), series, Actor
- *Bring 'Em Back Alive* (1982), series, Actor
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Gardener / Minister
- *Conan the Barbarian* (1982), as The Wizard
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Mike, Nobu Matsumoto
- *An Eye for an Eye* (1981), as James Chan
- *Under the Rainbow* (1981), as Nakomuri
- *The Bushido Blade* (1981), as Enjiro
- *The Greatest American Hero* (1981), series, as Master of Flowers
- *Flamingo Road* (1981), series, Actor
- *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Tozan
- *Hito Hata: Raise the Banner* (1980), as Oda
- *The Big Brawl* (1980), as Herbert
- *When Hell Was in Session* (1979), as Maj. Bai
- *A Man Called Sloane* (1979), series, as Tanaka
- *The Facts of Life* (1979), series, as Mr. Wakamatsu
- *Supertrain* (1979), series, as Kirby Yamashida
- *The Incredible Hulk* (1977), series, as Li Sung
- *Visions* (1976), series, Actor
- *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, as John Moroshima, Mr. Yamaguchi
- *Mr. T and Tina* (1976), series, Actor
- *Pacific Overtures* (1976), as Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
- *Anatomy of a Song* (1976), Actor
- *Farewell to Manzanar* (1976), as Fukimoto
- *Wataridori: Birds of Passage* (1976), as Narrator
- *The Killer Elite* (1975), as Yuen Chung
- *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Mr. Brown
- *Prisoners* (1975), as Sgt. Nguyen
- *Karate Sensei* (1975), as Narrator
- *Khan!* (1975), series, Actor
- *Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders* (1974), as Tao Gan
- *The Island at the Top of the World* (1974), as Oomiak
- *The Green Hornet* (1974), as Low Sing
- *Yokahama Mama* (1972), as Rooster (voice)
- *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Wong Ti Lu
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Major Choi — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), as Kenji
- *Anna and the King* (1972), series, as Sanum
- *If Tomorrow Comes* (1971), as Tadashi
- *Silence* (1971), as Kichijiro · Production Design
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Kanji Ousu — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Fools* (1970), as Psychiatrist
- *The Hawaiians* (1970), as Mun Ki
- *The Challenge* (1970), as Yuro
- *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Jack
- *Room 222* (1969), series, Actor
- *The Great Bank Robbery* (1969), as Secret Agent Fong
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Kazuo Tahashi
- *The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell* (1968), as Calvin Coolidge Ishimura
- *Mannix* (1967), series, as Tami Okada
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Phil Tsang
- *The Sand Pebbles* (1966), as Po-han — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-sand-pebbles.md)
- *The Time Tunnel* (1966), series, as Lt. Nakamura
- *The Green Hornet* (1966), series, as Low Sing
- *The Ugly Dachshund* (1966), as Kenji
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Yoshimura, Angry Youth (uncredited)
- *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965), series, as Kato
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Wong Lo
- *Gidget* (1965), series, Actor
- *F Troop* (1965), series, as Samurai Warrior
- *McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force* (1965), as Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Happy Tuava, Pete
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Kyoto
- *McHale's Navy* (1962), series, as Lt. Sakawa
- *The Gallant Men* (1962), series, Actor
- *Ensign O'Toole* (1962), series, as Yamada, Jr.
- *The Lloyd Bridges Show* (1962), series, as Akai Takahashi
- *Never So Few* (1959), as Soldier in Hospital
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Ito Nakayama
- *Black Sash*, series, as Master Li

## Gallery

- ![Mako](https://film.one/media/person/390719/gallery-8bd01a6b45c7.jpg) Mako — Jeff Share, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Mako%2C_1986.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mako](https://film.one/media/person/390719/gallery-e238cea59912.jpg) Mako — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1967: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Sand Pebbles*

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1976: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/mako