Who is James Shigeta?

The American actor, singer, and musician who was born in Japan, James Shigeta, is popular for his work in The Crimson Kimono (1959).

Bio

James Shigeta, born on June 17, 1929 – July 28, 2014 (aged 85) in Los Angeles, California as the third generation of -American. He was the sixth child of Issei and Nisei. He did his graduation from President Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1947 and soon after that, he started studying drama at New York University.

Instead of embarking on a business career, James made himself mentally and physically ready to serve for the United States Marine Corps. During the Korean War, James offered his two and half years making his rank rose to Staff Sergeant. When he put his feet in the acting field, at that time he often used to play the character of romantic male lead roles. This type of role was very nonexistent for an actor of Asian descent during the time he entered the industry. This all made James a trailblazer in Asian American representation in media.

Height, and weight

It is said that James used to stand 5 feet 9 inches tall weighing 339 lbs. He used to have light brown eye color and sale and pepper hair. James used shoes of size 9.5 (US), 8.5 (UK), 43.5 (EU), 27.5 (CM). He was born under the sun sign Gemini.

Career Of James Shigeta

Movies

He took acting lessons from dialogue coach Leon Charles. He made his screen debut in 1959 in the role of Detective Joe Kojaku in the Movie titled The Crimson Kimono. This movie was a detective story that featured an interracial romantic triangle between Kojaku, his partner Sgt. Charlie Bancroft and Christine Downes. The following role of Sgt. Charlie Bancroft played by Glenn Corbett and Christine Downes played by Victoria Shaw.

The character of James tended to be groundbreaking for the 1950s where an Asian American detective character was played by an Asian American actor who actually has regular American speech patterns rather than non-Asian made up to pass as Asian speaking broke the English language. The next movies, Paramount Pictures and James Clavell approached James in the movie Walk Like a Dragon which was released in 1960. James portrayed the character of Cheng Lu who was a  young Chinese man in the American old west. During the shooting for this film,

James was still engaged in the next movie named Holiday in Japan which’s why a source of transport was arranged for him ( i.e. ambulance) so that he gets set in time. He has also been part of the romantic comedy movie Cry for Happy in 1961 along with Glenn Ford, Donald O’Connor, and Miyoshi Umeki. He cast in the role of Wang Ta in 1961. It was a time in 1976 when James got the chance to portray the character of famous Japanese admiral Chūichi Nagumo in Midway. After a little gap, he appeared in the ill-fated corporate executive Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi in the movie titled Die Hard.

Singing 

Not only a beautiful face, but James Shigeta is blessed with a beautiful voice also. James had participated and won first prize in Ted Mack’s talent show titled The Original Amateur Hour. Later, James got a chance to team up with Charles K.L. Davis. They both got through a mission to develop a supper club musical career in the United States. James has also sung on the Dinah Shore Show. Shigeta became a star of the Shirley MacLaine-Steve Parker production of Holiday in Japan by the year 1959.

Awards Of James Shigeta

He received the 1960 Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer along with the actors George Hamilton, Troy Donahue, and Barry Coe. Later, in the year 2005, he received a “Visionary Award” from an Asian-American theatre organization, East West Players. Again his honor receiving work repeated in 2006 when James was listed among those actors and directors who have interviewed in the documentary The Slanted Screen.

James was listed in the Golden Asian-American Daily magazine as one of the “Most Inspiring Asian-Americans Of All Time”.  He has done so many amazing works which gave him both fame and money.  Before he put his feet into Hollywood Industry, he used to survive as a pop singer and performer abroad, especially in Japan and Australia.

Death Of James Shigeta

He took his last breath during his sleep on July 28, 2014, at age 85 in Beverly Hills. James’ body was in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

Partner

He never married anyone or nor dated anyone. He died single.

Net worth

James is not with us but when he was alive he had an estimated net worth of $900,000.

Social Media 

He died very early and he wasn’t from this generation also. That’s why he didn’t have a Social media and virtual life.

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