Sonny Chiba
Born
January 23, 1939
Died
August 19, 2021 (82 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
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.
Known For
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part II - Judgement
Jou
2024
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part I - Encounter
Jou
2023
Layout
(27 episodes)
2021
Street Fighting Man: An Interview with Sonny Chiba
Self
2019
Shakespeare In Tokyo
Calligrapher
2018
Shashin Koshien Summer in 0.5 Seconds
2017
Gokudō Tenka Fubu: Act 4
2017
Gokudō Tenka Fubu: Act 2
2017
Gokudō tenka fubu
2017
Masaaki Hatsumi: Living Ninja Legend
2016
Biohazard: The Stage
Ezra Sennett
2015
Take a Chance
Musashi
2015
The Noise
2015
Kanto Gangster Federation: Chapter 2
2015
Kanto Gangster Federation: Chapter 1
2014
Kabukicho High School
2014
修羅の伝承 荒ぶる凶犬
2014
Unification Of Japan 2
Seizo Gonda
2013
Don's Road 9
2013
Unification Of Japan
Seizo Gonda
2013
Don's Road 8
2013
Don's Road 7
2013
Sushi Girl: A Documentary
Self
2013
Don's Road 6
2013
Sushi Girl
Sushi Chef
2012
The Legend of Space Sheriff Gavan
Space Sheriff Voicer
2012
修羅の花道2
2012
修羅の花道
2012
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Hattori Hanzo
2011
千年の松 完結編
2009
Yakuza Legacy
2009
Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza
Himself
2009
Oyaji
Ryudo Numata
2007
Samurai Banners
(54 episodes)
2007
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Uncle Kamata
2006
Tarantino's Mind
(archive footage)
2006
Legend of Seven Monks
2006
Team Astro
Shuro · (18 episodes)
2005
New Shadow Warriors VI: The Final Chapter
Hattori Hanzo I
2005
New Shadow Warriors V: Hattori Hanzo vs Onmyoji
Hattori Hanzo I
2005
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4 - The Fire Chapter
Yagyu Jubei
2005
Survive Style 5+
Azama
2004
New Shadow Warriors IV: Jiraika 2
Hattori Hanzo I
2004
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Hattori Hanzo
2004
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3 - The Wind Chapter
2004
Explosive City
Otosan
2004
风云争霸
东方青木 / 东方白石 · (40 episodes)
2004
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Hattori Hanzo
2003
New Shadow Warriors III: Jiraika 1
Hattori Hanzo I
2003
Battle Royale II: Requiem
Makio Mimura
2003
New Shadow Warriors II
Hattori Hanzo I
2003
New Shadow Warriors
Hattori Hanzo I
2003
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Yasunori Hijikata
2002
Wind and Cloud
雄霸 · (44 episodes)
2002
Akumyoh 2
2001
Shotgun Marriage
Ittetsu Kotani · (11 episodes)
2001
Lonely Hitman: The Blue Wolf
2001
Hakata Movie: Chinchiromai
2000
Born to Be King
Ichiro Kusakari
2000
Legend of the Flying Swordsman
Dagger
2000
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
Self (archive footage)
1998
The Storm Riders
Lord Conqueror
1998
Seiryuu Densetsu
(9 episodes)
1996
Body Count
Makato
1995
Immortal Combat
Jiro 'J.J.' Jintani
1994
The Triple Cross
Chiba
1992
Notes on Tokugawa Villainies
Matsudaira Tadateru · (1 episode)
1992
Iron Eagle III
Horikoshi
1992
Fighting Fist
Supt. Yamada
1992
Yakuza Warfare
1991
Saito Dosan: Rage of Power
Mitsutsugu Akechi
1991
Takeda Shingen
1991
Takeda Shingen
Takeda Nobutora · (2 episodes)
1991
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1990
Shingo's Ten Duels
Umei Tamon
1990
Seventeen Ninja
1990
Yume ni Mita Hibi
Sekimoto Shinsaku · (10 episodes)
1989
Sensei
Makoto Ushiyama
1989
Shogun's Shadow
Iba Shoemon
1989
Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
1989
Iemitsu, Hikoza and Isshin Tasuke - A National Crisis: Edo Castle in Danger
Yagyu Jubei
1989
Oda Nobunaga
(1 episode)
1989
Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
1988
Tokugawa Ieyasu
(1 episode)
1988
Sure Death 4
Bunshichi
1987
Taikoki
1987
Cabaret
Yakuza boss
1986
The Last True Yakuza
Ryozo Kano
1985
Amazing Masters of Martial Arts
Self
1985
Space Sheriff Shaider: Pursuit! The Strange Kidnappers!
Shaider (Voice)
1984
Kotaro, An Audacious Karate Boy
Sonny Sullivan
1984
Space Sheriff Shaider: The Movie
Shaider (Voice)
1984
The Awesome Circus Bastard
Maejima Daigaku
1984
Legend of the Eight Samurai
Inuyama Dosetsu Tadatomo
1983
Kabamaru the Ninja Boy
Iga no Saizo
1983
Space Sheriff Sharivan
Voicer (in flashback) · (1 episode)
1983
Ninja Wars
Shinzaemon Yagyu
1982
Yagyu Jubei Secret Quest
Yagyu Jubei · (26 episodes)
1982
Fall Guy
1982
Space Sheriff Gavan
Space Sheriff Voicer · (44 episodes)
1982
Kamikaze, the Adventurer
Daisuke Kamikaze
1981
Roaring Fire
Mr. Magic
1981
The Bushido Blade
Prince Ido
1981
Samurai Reincarnation
Jubei Yagyu
1981
Shogun's Ninja
Shiranui Shogen
1980
Yagyu's Secret Quest
Yagyu Jubei · (26 episodes)
1980
Virus
Dr. Yamauchi
1980
Tokyo Earthquake Magnitude 8.1
1980
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Katsutoshi Otomo
1980
Shadow Warriors
Hattori Hanzō · (119 episodes)
1980
G.I. Samurai
Lt. Yoshiaki Iba
1979
The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf
Mitsuhiko Sakurai
1979
Dead Angle
1979
Hunter in the Dark
Samon Shimoguni
1979
The Fall of Ako Castle
Fuwa Kazuemon
1978
The Yagyu Conspiracy
Yagyu Yubei · (39 episodes)
1978
The Okinawa War of Ten Years
1978
Message from Space
Prince Hans
1978
Juujiro
(6 episodes)
1978
Shogun's Samurai
Jûbê Yagyû
1978
Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye
Drunkard
1977
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
1977
Truckster of Guts
1977
Doberman Cop
Joji Kano
1977
Japanese Humanity and Justice
1977
Karate for Life
Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
1977
Hokuriku Proxy War
Kanai Hachiro
1977
Soul of Chiba
Mu Yun Tek
1977
Japan's Don
Tsuneyoshi Sakota
1977
The Great Okinawa Yakuza War
Seigou Kunigami
1976
Jail Breakers
Wataru Kangi
1976
The Rugby Star
1976
Karate Warriors
Shuuhei Sakata
1976
The Machine Gun Dragon
1976
The Killing Machine
Doshin So
1976
Dragon Princess
Kazuma Higaki
1976
Daihijôsen
(1 episode)
1976
Karate Bear Fighter
Mas Oyama
1975
The Decisive Power of Aikido
1975
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
Bartender
1975
Detonation: Violent Riders
1975
Karate Bullfighter
Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
1975
The Bullet Train
Aoki
1975
Wolf Guy
Akira Inugami
1975
13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats
Kenichi Hyuga
1975
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Ryuichi Koga
1974
The Street Fighter's Last Revenge
Takuma Tsurguri
1974
Sister Street Fighter
Seiichi Hibiki
1974
The Executioner
Ryuichi Koga
1974
Miracle on Lubang Island: Army Nakano School
1974
Return of the Street Fighter
Takuma Tsurugi
1974
The Street Fighter
Takuma Tsurugi
1974
The Bodyguard
(1 episode)
1974
Karate Killer
Naoto Kiba
1973
Murderous Love
1973
Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok Drug Triangle
Tatsuya Wada
1973
Robot Detective: The Movie
Keitaro Shinjo
1973
The Bodyguard
Naoto Kiba
1973
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
Katsutoshi Otomo
1973
Robot Detective
Keitarō Shinjō · (26 episodes)
1973
The Horrible Obsessions
Haruo Kikuchi
1972
Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences
Toru Ibuki
1972
Wandering Ginza Butterfly: She-Cat Gambler
Ryuji
1972
A Narcotics Agent's Ballad
1972
Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder
Gosuke Himuro
1972
Kamikaze Cop, No Epitaph to Us
Shiro Hayata
1971
Kamikaze Cop, The Poison Gas Affair
Shiro Hayata
1971
The Last Kamikaze
Captain Mishima
1970
Kamikaze Cop, Marihuana Syndicate
1970
A Kamikaze Cop
Hayata Shiro
1970
Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
Sho Onuma
1969
Delinquent Boss: Wolves of the City
Mitsuo Fujiki
1969
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
1968
Army Intelligence
Kazuo Yamamoto
1968
Human Torpedoes
1968
The Rickshaw Man’s Son
Komakichi Sugimoto
1967
Game of Chance 3
1967
King of the Gang
1967
North Sea Chivalry
1967
Classmates
Second Sublieutenant Hanzawa
1967
Game of Chance 2
1967
Organized Violence
1967
The Golden Bat
Dr. Yamatone
1966
Game of Chance
Bungo Endo
1966
Dash to the Sun
1966
Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
1966
Terror Beneath the Sea
Ken Abe
1966
The Kamikaze Guy
Mitarai Ken
1966
Night Bitch
1966
Prison Walls of Abashiri 4
1965
Code of Ruffians
1965
Yakuza G-Men
Toru Sasayama
1965
Tale of Japanese Burglars
Lawyer Ohki
1965
おゝい雲！
1965
That Cute Girl
1965
Two Lives, Two Yakuza
Shinichi Matsuhashi
1964
Here Because of You
1964
売春地下組織
1964
Judo Hall Demon
1964
Orders from Hell
1964
A Life of Intimidation
1963
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
The Navy
Takao
1963
Song of Yakuza
1963
浅草の侠客
1963
Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge
1963
Judo Life
1963
次郎長社長と石松社員 安来ぶし道中
1963
Fearful Witch
1962
The King
1962
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
Mid-August Commotion
1962
Four Sisters
Shinkichi Hayami
1962
Zankokuna tsuki
1962
あの空の果てに星はまたたく
1962
All Rascals
1962
The Escape
1962
Love School
1962
South Pacific Waves Are High
1962
Tale of a Company Boss 3
Nagashima
1961
Police Precinct Part 17
Detective Nakagawa
1961
Man with a Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm
1961
Man with the Funky Hat
1961
Invasion of the Neptune Men
Tachibana - Scientist / Space Chief
1961
Drifting Detective: Black Wind in Harbor
1961
Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley
Goro Saionji
1961
Police Precinct: 15 Year Old Woman
Detective Nakagawa
1961
Police Department Story Pt.15: Alibi
1961
Messenger of Allah
Detective Goro Narumi / Messenger of Allah · (26 episodes)
1960
Nanairo Kamen
Kotaro Ran · (26 episodes)
1959