Mako (actor)

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Mako (actor)

Role / Field:

Pioneering Japanese-American actor known as Mako, spanning film, stage, and voice work.

Born:

1933-12-10

Died:

2006-07-21

Century / Era:

1933s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Makoto Iwamatsu (岩松 信, Iwamatsu Makoto; December 10, 1933 – July 21, 2006) was a Japanese-American actor, credited mononymously in almost all of his acting roles as simply Mako (マコ; MAH-koh). His career in film, on television, and on stage spanned five decades and 165 productions. He was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. Born and raised in Kobe, Mako moved to the United States after the Second World War, where his dissident parents had moved to escape political persecution. After serving with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he trained in acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and later co-founded the East West Players.

Career & Major Achievements

His role as Po-Han (his second credited role on film) in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles saw him nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. His other various roles included Kichijiro in the 1971 film adaptation of Silence, Oomiak "The Fearless One" in The Island at the Top of the World (1974), Akiro the Wizard in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984), and Kungo Tsarong in Seven Years in Tibet (1997). He was part of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's 1976 Broadway musical Pacific Overtures, which earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Later in his career, he became well known for his voice-acting roles, including Mr. Yamaguchi in Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, Aku in the first four seasons of Samurai Jack (2001–04), and Iroh in the first two seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–06). He died on July 21, 2006, at the age of 72 from esophageal cancer.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Mako was born Makoto Iwamatsu in the Higashinada-ku ward of Kobe, the son of children's authors and illustrators Tomoe Sasako and Atsushi Iwamatsu, better known by their pen names Mitsu and Taro Yashima. In 1939, his parents, who were political dissidents, moved to the United States, leaving Mako in the care of his grandmother. Because his parents lived on the East Coast, they were not interned during World War II; instead they opted to work for the U.S. Office of War Information and were later granted residency. They arranged for him to join them in 1949, when he was fifteen years old. Iwamatsu's father owned an art studio in New York City, and as a teenager, he became acquainted with painter Hiroshi Honda.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1933 (1933-12-10): Birth of Mako (actor) — Pioneering Japanese-American actor known as Mako, spanning film, stage, and voice work.
2. 1939: 1939 Milestone — In 1939, his parents, who were political dissidents, moved to the United States, leaving Mako in the care of his grandmother.
3. 1949: 1949 Milestone — They arranged for him to join them in 1949, when he was fifteen years old.
4. 1966: 1966 Milestone — His role as Po-Han (his second credited role on film) in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles saw him nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
5. 1971: 1971 Milestone — His other various roles included Kichijiro in the 1971 film adaptation of Silence, Oomiak "The Fearless One" in The Island at the Top of the World (1974), Akiro the Wizard in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984), and Kungo Tsarong in Seven Years in Tibet (1997).
6. 1976: 1976 Milestone — He was part of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's 1976 Broadway musical Pacific Overtures, which earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
7. 2001: 2001 Milestone — Yamaguchi in Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, Aku in the first four seasons of Samurai Jack (2001–04), and Iroh in the first two seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–06).
8. 2006 (2006-07-21): Passing & Historical Legacy — Mako (actor) passed away on 2006-07-21, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Mako (actor)

True or False: “Mako's first major nomination for Best Supporting Actor came from his role in the 1974 film The Island at the Top of the World.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations both stemmed from his performance as Po-Han in the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 13th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Died in 1933) (1933): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Abolhassan Banisadr — Contemporary (Born in 1933) (1933): Iranian politician who served as the first president following the Islamic Revolution.
• Adolf Loos — Contemporary (Died in 1933) (1933): Pioneering architect and theorist of modernism, known for his critique of ornamentation.
• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Ahmet Ertegun — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering Turkish-American music executive, co-founder of Atlantic Records.
• Ada Lovelace — Shared historical date (12-10 · Born) (1815): Pioneering mathematician recognized as the first computer programmer.
• Agnes Nixon — Shared historical date (12-10 · Born) (1922): Pioneering soap opera writer and producer, creator of 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children'.
• A. D. Hope — Shared historical date (07-21 · Born) (1907): Australian poet and essayist celebrated for his satirical wit and academic career.
• Abrar-ul-Haq — Shared historical date (07-21 · Born) (1968): Esteemed Pakistani singer, philanthropist, and former politician from Punjab.
• 1933 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1933
• December 10 (12-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 10
• 2006 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2006
• July 21 (07-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 21

Frequently Asked Questions about Mako (actor)