Sonny Chiba
Acting • Born 1939-01-23 – Died 2021-08-19
Biography
Sonny Chiba (born January 23, 1939 - August 19, 2021), also known as Shin'ichi Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984. Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (2006). Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sonny Chiba, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
236 credits
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Movie • 2003
Hattori Hanzo
The Storm Riders
Movie • 1998
Lord Conqueror
Battle Royale II: Requiem
Movie • 2003
Makio Mimura
The Executioner
Movie • 1974
Ryuichi Koga
The Killing Machine
Movie • 1975
Doshin So
Invasion of the Neptune Men
Movie • 1961
Tachibana - Scientist / Space Chief
Judo Hall Demon
Movie • 1964
Judo Life
Movie • 1963
Explosive City
Movie • 2004
Otosan
Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences
Movie • 1972
Toru Ibuki
Two Lives, Two Yakuza
Movie • 1964
Shinichi Matsuhashi
South Pacific Waves Are High
Movie • 1962
Fall Guy
Movie • 1982
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Movie • 2006
Uncle Kamata
Karate for Life
Movie • 1977
Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
Karate Bullfighter
Movie • 1975
Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
Karate Bear Fighter
Movie • 1975
Mas Oyama
Shogun's Samurai
Movie • 1978
Jûbê Yagyû
Police Department Part 15: Alibi
Movie • 1961
The Street Fighter
Movie • 1974
Takuma Tsurugi
Return of the Street Fighter
Movie • 1974
Takuma Tsurugi
The Street Fighter's Last Revenge
Movie • 1974
Takuma Tsurguri
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Movie • 2002
Yasunori Hijikata
Masaaki Hatsumi: Living Ninja Legend
Movie • 2016
Sushi Girl
Movie • 2012
Sushi Chef
The Kamikaze Guy
Movie • 1966
Mitarai Ken
Survive Style 5+
Movie • 2004
Azama
Hunter in the Dark
Movie • 1979
Samon Shimoguni
Roaring Fire
Movie • 1981
Mr. Magic
Sister Street Fighter
Movie • 1974
Seiichi Hibiki
Police Precinct Part 17
Movie • 1961
Detective Nakagawa
The Bullet Train
Movie • 1975
Aoki
Police Precinct: 15 Year Old Woman
Movie • 1961
Detective Nakagawa
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
Movie • 1977
Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
Sushi Girl: A Documentary
Movie • 2013
Self
修羅の花道
Movie • 2012
Don's Road 6
Movie • 2013
Don's Road 8
Movie • 2013
Don's Road 9
Movie • 2013
Don's Road 7
Movie • 2013
Space Sheriff Shaider: The Movie
Movie • 1984
Shaider (Voice)
Space Sheriff Shaider: Pursuit! The Strange Kidnappers!
Movie • 1984
Shaider (Voice)
Robot Detective: The Movie
Movie • 1973
Keitaro Shinjo
Night Bitch
Movie • 1966
Tatsuo Otsuki
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
Movie • 1973
Katsutoshi Otomo
The Fall of Ako Castle
Movie • 1978
Fuwa Kazuemon
A Kamikaze Cop
Movie • 1970
Hayata Shiro
Terror Beneath the Sea
Movie • 1966
Ken Abe
Samurai Reincarnation
Movie • 1981
Jubei Yagyu
The Bodyguard
Movie • 1973
Naoto Kiba
Karate Warriors
Movie • 1976
Shuuhei Sakata
G.I. Samurai
Movie • 1979
Lt. Yoshiaki Iba
Orders from Hell
Movie • 1964
修羅の伝承 荒ぶる凶犬
Movie • 2014
Yakuza: Domination of the Realm
Movie • 2017
Yakuza: Domination of the Realm 4
Movie • 2017
Yakuza: Domination of the Realm 2
Movie • 2017
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
Movie • 1972
Ryuji
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Movie • 1974
Ryuichi Koga
Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley
Movie • 1961
Goro Saionji
The King
Movie • 1962
Kamikaze Cop, Marihuana Syndicate
Movie • 1970
Hayata
The Machine Gun Dragon
Movie • 1976
The Golden Bat
Movie • 1966
Dr. Yamatone
The Triple Cross
Movie • 1992
Chiba
Man with a Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm
Movie • 1961
あの空の果てに星はまたたく
Movie • 1962
Kanto Gangster Federation: Chapter 1
Movie • 2014
Kanto Gangster Federation: Chapter 2
Movie • 2015
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Movie • 1988
The Bushido Blade
Movie • 1981
Prince Ido
Kamikaze Cop, No Epitaph to Us
Movie • 1971
Shiro Hayata
Kabamaru the Ninja Boy
Movie • 1983
Iga no Saizo
Immortal Combat
Movie • 1994
Jiro 'J.J.' Jintani
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Movie • 2004
Hattori Hanzo
Wolf Guy
Movie • 1975
Akira Inugami
修羅の花道2
Movie • 2012
Zankokuna tsuki
Movie • 1962
New Shadow Warriors V: Hattori Hanzo vs Onmyoji
Movie • 2005
Hattori Hanzo I
New Shadow Warriors
Movie • 2003
Hattori Hanzo I
New Shadow Warriors II
Movie • 2003
Hattori Hanzo I
New Shadow Warriors VI: The Final Chapter
Movie • 2005
Hattori Hanzo I
New Shadow Warriors IV: Jiraika 2
Movie • 2004
Hattori Hanzo I
New Shadow Warriors III: Jiraika 1
Movie • 2003
Hattori Hanzo I
Fighting Fist
Movie • 1992
Supt. Yamada
13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats
Movie • 1975
Kenichi Hyuga
Love School
Movie • 1962
Amazing Masters of Martial Arts
Movie • 1985
Self
The Great Okinawa Yakuza War
Movie • 1976
Seigou Kunigami
Song of Yakuza
Movie • 1963
Dragon Princess
Movie • 1976
Kazuma Higaki
Lonely Hitman: The Blue Wolf
Movie • 2001
Shogun's Shadow
Movie • 1989
Iba Shoemon
Shogun's Ninja
Movie • 1980
Shiranui Shogen
Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge
Movie • 1963
Sataro
That Cute Girl
Movie • 1965
Dash to the Sun
Movie • 1966
Born to Be King
Movie • 2000
Ichiro Kusakari
Legend of Seven Monks
Movie • 2006
Asakusa no kyōkaku
Movie • 1963
Shinsuke Hayama / Shintaro
Unification Of Japan
Movie • 2013
Seizo Gonda
Tokyo Earthquake Magnitude 8.1
Movie • 1980
Body Count
Movie • 1995
Makato
Unification Of Japan 2
Movie • 2013
Seizo Gonda
Akumyoh 2
Movie • 2001
Tale of Ａ Company Boss Pt.５
Movie • 1963
Hiroshi Shiomi
Legend of the Eight Samurai
Movie • 1983
Inuyama Dosetsu Tadatomo
Sure Death 4
Movie • 1987
Bunshichi
Kabukicho High School
Movie • 2014
Street Fighting Man: An Interview with Sonny Chiba
Movie • 2019
Self
Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok Drug Triangle
Movie • 1973
Tatsuya Wada
Soul of Chiba
Movie • 1977
Mu Yun Tek
Dead Angle
Movie • 1979
Classmates
Movie • 1967
Second Sublieutenant Hanzawa
Human Torpedoes
Movie • 1968
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Movie • 1968
The Last Kamikaze
Movie • 1970
Captain Mishima
All Rascals
Movie • 1962
Take a Chance
Movie • 2015
Musashi
The Noise
Movie • 2015
The Awesome Circus Bastard
Movie • 1984
Maejima Daigaku
Tale of Japanese Burglars
Movie • 1965
Lawyer Ohki
Iron Eagle III
Movie • 1992
Horikoshi
Army Intelligence
Movie • 1968
Kazuo Yamamoto
Tale of a Company Boss 3
Movie • 1961
Nagashima
Bodyguard Kiba 2
Movie • 1973
Naoto Kiba
Here Because of You
Movie • 1964
Game of Chance
Movie • 1966
Bungo Endo
Jail Breakers
Movie • 1976
Wataru Kangi
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Movie • 1980
Katsutoshi Otomo
Virus
Movie • 1980
Dr. Yamauchi
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part II - Judgement
Movie • 2024
Jou
Doberman Cop
Movie • 1977
Joji Kano
Shingo's Ten Duels
Movie • 1990
Umei Tamon
Biohazard: The Stage
Movie • 2015
Ezra Sennett
Man with the Funky Hat
Movie • 1961
The Decisive Power of Aikido
Movie • 1975
Drifting Detective: Black Wind in Harbor
Movie • 1961
Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder
Movie • 1972
Gosuke Himuro
Ninja Wars
Movie • 1982
Shinzaemon Yagyu
The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf
Movie • 1979
Mitsuhiko Sakurai
Seventeen Ninja
Movie • 1990
Hokuriku Proxy War
Movie • 1977
Kanai Hachiro
The Last True Yakuza
Movie • 1985
Ryozo Kano
Truckster of Guts
Movie • 1977
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
Movie • 1975
Bartender
Four Sisters
Movie • 1962
Shinkichi Hayami
King of the Gang
Movie • 1967
Prison Walls of Abashiri 4
Movie • 1965
Kamikaze, the Adventurer
Movie • 1981
Daisuke Kamikaze
Gang vs. G-Men
Movie • 1962
Kamikaze Cop, The Poison Gas Affair
Movie • 1971
Shiro Hayata
Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
Movie • 1969
Sho Onuma
Yakuza Legacy
Movie • 2009
Saito Dosan: Rage of Power
Movie • 1991
Mitsutsugu Akechi
The Legend of Space Sheriff Gavan
Movie • 2012
Space Sheriff Voicer
Iemitsu, Hikoza and Isshin Tasuke - A National Crisis: Edo Castle in Danger
Movie • 1989
Yagyu Jubei
Kotaro, An Audacious Karate Boy
Movie • 1984
Sonny Sullivan
Yakuza G-Men
Movie • 1965
Toru Sasayama
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Movie • 2011
Hattori Hanzo
Oyaji
Movie • 2007
Ryudo Numata
Detonation: Violent Riders
Movie • 1975
The Escape
Movie • 1962
A Life of Intimidation
Movie • 1963
A Narcotics Agent's Ballad
Movie • 1972
The Horrible Obsessions
Movie • 1972
Haruo Kikuchi
The Rickshaw Man’s Son
Movie • 1967
Komakichi Sugimoto
Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza
Movie • 2009
Himself
Organized Violence
Movie • 1967
Japanese Humanity and Justice
Movie • 1977
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Movie • 1963
North Sea Chivalry
Movie • 1967
Game of Chance 2
Movie • 1967
The Okinawa War of Ten Years
Movie • 1978
Taikoki
Movie • 1987
Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
Movie • 1966
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part I - Encounter
Movie • 2023
Jou
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3 - The Wind Chapter
Movie • 2004
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4 - The Fire Chapter
Movie • 2005
Yagyu Jubei
Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye
Movie • 1977
Drunkard
The Navy
Movie • 1963
Takao
Shakespeare In Tokyo
Movie • 2018
Calligrapher
Yakuza Warfare
Movie • 1991
Minamoto Yoshitsune
Movie • 1990
Delinquent Boss: Wolves of the City
Movie • 1969
Mitsuo Fujiki
Game of Chance 3
Movie • 1967
Cabaret
Movie • 1986
Yakuza boss
Message from Space
Movie • 1978
Prince Hans
Sensei
Movie • 1989
Makoto Ushiyama
Shashin Koshien Summer in 0.5 Seconds
Movie • 2017
Code of Ruffians
Movie • 1965
Japan's Don
Movie • 1977
Tsuneyoshi Sakota
The Rugby Star
Movie • 1976
Hakata Movie: Chinchiromai
Movie • 2000
Legend of the Flying Swordsman
Movie • 2000
Dagger
Fearful Witch
Movie • 1962
Miracle on Lubang Island: Army Nakano School
Movie • 1974
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Movie • 1989
Mid-August Commotion
Movie • 1962
Dr Omori
おゝい雲！
Movie • 1965
Takeda Shingen
Movie • 1991
Takeda Nobutora
Tokyo Untouchables
Movie • 1964
Murderous Love
Movie • 1973
千年の松 完結編
Movie • 2009
Unification of Japan: Compilation I — Rise of Ambition
Movie • 2013
The Murder Corps
Movie • 2001
The Murder Corps: Road to Kansai Domination
Movie • 2001
Yagyu Abaretabi
Movie • 1980
Violent Street
Movie • 1963
Space Sheriff Gavan
TV • 1982
Space Sheriff Voicer
Shadow Warriors
TV • 1980
Hattori Hanzō
Tokugawa Ieyasu
TV • 1988
Oda Nobunaga
TV • 1989
Samurai Banners
TV • 2007
Seiryuu Densetsu
TV • 1996
Shotgun Marriage
TV • 2001
Ittetsu Kotani
Takeda Shingen
TV • 1991
Takeda Nobutora
Space Sheriff Sharivan
TV • 1983
Voicer (in flashback)
Layout
TV • 2021
Robot Detective
TV • 1973
Keitarō Shinjō
Messenger of Allah
TV • 1960
Detective Goro Narumi / Messenger of Allah
Nanairo Kamen
TV • 1959
Kotaro Ran
The Bodyguard
TV • 1974
Notes on Tokugawa Villainies
TV • 1992
Matsudaira Tadateru
Wind and Cloud
TV • 2002
雄霸
Team Astro
TV • 2005
Shuro
The Yagyu Conspiracy
TV • 1978
Yagyu Yubei
Yagyu's Secret Quest
TV • 1980
Yagyu Jubei
Yagyu Jubei Secret Quest
TV • 1982
Yagyu Jubei
Juujiro
TV • 1978
Daihijôsen
TV • 1976
风云争霸
TV • 2004
东方青木 / 东方白石
Yume ni Mita Hibi
TV • 1989
Sekimoto Shinsaku
Key Hunter
TV • 1968
風間洋介
Late Night Salute
TV • 1986
Blazing Dragnet
TV • 1975