Ken Watanabe

Ken Watanabe

Born:October 21, 1959

Place of Birth:Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Known For:Acting

Biography

Ken Watanabe, born on October 21, 1959, is a highly acclaimed Japanese actor who has left an indelible mark on both stage and screen. Renowned for his ability to portray complex and tragic hero characters, Watanabe has captivated audiences around the world with his powerful performances. His portrayal of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in "Letters from Iwo Jima" and Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in "The Last Samurai" showcased his immense talent and garnered him critical acclaim.

Watanabe's impressive acting skills have not gone unnoticed, earning him numerous accolades throughout his career. He has received the prestigious Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor twice, in 2007 for his role in "Memories of Tomorrow" and in 2010 for "Shizumanu Taiyō." These awards are a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft.

In addition to his success in Japanese cinema, Watanabe has also made a name for himself in Hollywood, working with renowned directors such as Christopher Nolan. His roles in blockbusters like "Batman Begins" and "Inception" further solidified his status as a versatile and sought-after actor in the international film industry.

Beyond his on-screen work, Watanabe has also made significant contributions to the world of theater, showcasing his talent in various stage productions. His dynamic range and ability to immerse himself in diverse roles have earned him respect and admiration from audiences and critics alike.

With his commanding presence and nuanced performances, Watanabe continues to captivate audiences with each new project he takes on. His dedication to his craft and his ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters have established him as a true powerhouse in the world of acting.

Off-screen, Watanabe is known for his humility and professionalism, earning him the respect of his peers and fans alike. His passion for storytelling and his commitment to his roles shine through in every performance, making him a beloved and respected figure in the entertainment industry.

As he continues to push boundaries and challenge himself with each new role, Ken Watanabe remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of cinema. His impact on both Japanese and international film has solidified his legacy as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation.

With a career spanning decades and a reputation for excellence, Ken Watanabe's contributions to the world of entertainment are truly unparalleled. His talent, dedication, and unwavering commitment to his craft have made him a true icon in the world of acting, inspiring audiences and fellow actors alike.

Images

Ken Watanabe
Ken Watanabe
Ken Watanabe
Ken Watanabe
Ken Watanabe

Filmography

Acting

Inception

Inception

Saito

2010

Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
The Creator

The Creator

Harun

2023

Amid a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war—and mankind itself.
Batman Begins

Batman Begins

Ra's al Ghul

2005

Driven by tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to uncovering and defeating the corruption that plagues his home, Gotham City. Unable to work within the system, he instead creates a new identity, a symbol of fear for the criminal underworld - The Batman.
Godzilla

Godzilla

Dr. Ishiro Serizawa

2014

Ford Brody, a Navy bomb expert, has just reunited with his family in San Francisco when he is forced to go to Japan to help his estranged father, Joe. Soon, both men are swept up in an escalating crisis when an ancient alpha predator arises from the sea to combat malevolent adversaries that threaten the survival of humanity. The creatures leave colossal destruction in their wake, as they make their way toward their final battleground: San Francisco.
Transformers: Age of Extinction

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Drift (voice)

2014

As humanity picks up the pieces after the battle of Chicago, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from Cade Yeager, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet.
Transformers: The Last Knight

Transformers: The Last Knight

Drift (voice)

2017

Humans and Transformers are at war. Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager; Bumblebee; an English Lord; and an Oxford Professor.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Dr. Ishiro Serizawa

2019

Follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species, thought to be mere myths, rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence hanging in the balance.
The Last Samurai

The Last Samurai

Moritsugu Katsumoto

2003

Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Lieutenant Hide Yoshida

2019

In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.
Isle of Dogs

Isle of Dogs

Head Surgeon (voice)

2018

In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island used as a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy arrives on the island to find his beloved pet.
Letters from Iwo Jima

Letters from Iwo Jima

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi

2006

The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Mr. Tall

2009

When Darren Shan is taken to a circus that's chock-full of sideshow oddities, he meets a vampire and receives a life-changing bite on the neck.
Tampopo

Tampopo

Gun

1985

In this humorous paean to the joys of food, a pair of truck drivers happen onto a decrepit roadside shop selling ramen noodles. The widowed owner, Tampopo, begs them to help her turn her establishment into a paragon of the "art of noodle-soup making". Interspersed are satirical vignettes about the importance of food to different aspects of human life.
7 Guardians of the Tomb

7 Guardians of the Tomb

Father

2018

An innocent discovery of a well-preserved mummified Emperor from 200 BC China unearths a 2000 year old nightmare - a secret that should have remained buried.
Fukushima 50

Fukushima 50

Masao Yoshida

2020

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan risk their lives and stay at the nuclear power plant to prevent total destruction after the region is devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

Production