{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/4995/james-shigeta",
  "name": "James Shigeta",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/4995/james-shigeta",
  "knownForDepartment": "Acting",
  "description": "James Saburo Shigeta (June 17, 1929 – July 28, 2014) was an American actor, singer, and musician of Japanese descent. He was noted for his roles in The Crimson Kimono (1959), Walk Like a Dragon (1960), Flower Drum Song (1961), Bridge to the Sun (1961), Die Hard (1988), and Mulan (1998). In 1960, he won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, along with three other actors.\n\nIn his early career, Shigeta often played romantic male lead roles, which were almost nonexistent for an actor of Asian descent during his time, making him a trailblazer in Asian American representation in media. The Goldsea Asian-American Daily magazine listed him as one of the \"Most Inspiring Asian-Americans Of All Time\".\n\nBefore his Hollywood career he found success as a pop singer and performer abroad, especially in Japan and Australia.",
  "birthDate": "1929-06-17",
  "deathDate": "2014-07-28",
  "birthPlace": "Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA",
  "alternateName": [
    "James Saburo Shigeta",
    "繁田三郎"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/HtXVBHBPPHaNpQ8FVefB3AB9Rn.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0793363"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "4 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 484,
      "title": "Murder, She Wrote",
      "year": "1984",
      "role": "as John Sukahara",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3UxBFG4fiuZ0P9n2sCrjXh64Avy.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/484/murder-she-wrote-1984"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4177,
      "title": "Perry Mason",
      "year": "1957",
      "role": "as Ward Toyama",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.744,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/sK6JvgNFP1ClT4aF4nPAZiDpAdk.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4177/perry-mason-1957"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2025,
      "title": "Beverly Hills, 90210",
      "year": "1990",
      "role": "as Ben Sosna",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.315,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/b7BYfkhu653D894krwGO1ysIKTf.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2025/beverly-hills-90210-1990"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 71494,
      "title": "Golden Globe Awards",
      "year": "1944",
      "role": "as Self - Audience Member",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.2,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gYG3SHNKui9ps9RfN4u9MMwpy10.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/71494/golden-globe-awards-1944"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4582,
      "title": "Ironside",
      "year": "1967",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.864,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/Fu9Sv0pQ0s89uWwwXcaG0kiNW7.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4582/ironside-1967"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 1823,
      "title": "The Love Boat",
      "year": "1977",
      "role": "as Bud's Father",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/fnsnazlj2bt3Fuj0pJ7wBPmuMLO.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/1823/the-love-boat-1977"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 3137,
      "title": "Babylon 5",
      "year": "1994",
      "role": "as Taro Isogi",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/td8O6KJQpN9ZRiuyFUILziXFMrk.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/3137/babylon-5-1994"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 1781,
      "title": "Little House on the Prairie",
      "year": "1974",
      "role": "as Sam Wing",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.917,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/eVpvlqKZfEVsBOttNFTUyfPoA6K.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/1781/little-house-on-the-prairie-1974"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2303,
      "title": "Hawaii Five-O",
      "year": "1968",
      "role": "as Joseph Matsukino",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.154,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8iFAlqhfY1D0ithTrfKTxObPlUH.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2303/hawaii-five-o-1968"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 734,
      "title": "Magnum, P.I.",
      "year": "1980",
      "role": "as Richard Enoka",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.325,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ht0dsKCZxbPawKdTPLeNtnnbxim.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/734/magnum-p-i-1980"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 954,
      "title": "The Rockford Files",
      "year": "1974",
      "role": "as Clement Chin",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.605,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/fniHEsTeqHMg41GlCYJxZVgtn7H.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/954/the-rockford-files-1974"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4357,
      "title": "Mission: Impossible",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "as Shiki",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.559,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/1PnUBKbDR1F2w5qicblLg1QGTif.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4357/mission-impossible-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 5375,
      "title": "Emergency!",
      "year": "1972",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.949,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/or94yBr8bwDPYYY3n8OIu0Q32S3.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/5375/emergency-1972"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2102,
      "title": "Simon & Simon",
      "year": "1981",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.72,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/h1wId4z79SQOOhEnc3oEqf3qpro.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2102/simon-simon-1981"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 600,
      "title": "Renegade",
      "year": "1992",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.715,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/9ESXaOpVv2EsORITmUz9z26hqC8.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/600/renegade-1992"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2119,
      "title": "Airwolf",
      "year": "1984",
      "role": "as Colonel Tranh Van Zung",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.583,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/4PAN7zPqmR9b73een97WkxqCTQN.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2119/airwolf-1984"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 1059,
      "title": "T. J. Hooker",
      "year": "1982",
      "role": "as Chow Duc Khan",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.516,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/zcHUwD20mqMD4g8LKdpKD12QRhE.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/1059/t-j-hooker-1982"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 246,
      "title": "Avatar: The Last Airbender",
      "year": "2005",
      "role": "as Old Wanderer (voice)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8.756,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/9RQhVb3r3mCMqYVhLoCu4EvuipP.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/246/avatar-the-last-airbender-2005"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 3782,
      "title": "Naked City",
      "year": "1958",
      "role": "as James Kam",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/56pxzIXS9dEwtUHsQc4ggDMkSX2.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/3782/naked-city-1958"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 945,
      "title": "Burke's Law",
      "year": "1963",
      "role": "as Sidney Ying",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.25,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ePKRW7T0RCgzSzuVJPwHxcqBPXG.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/945/burke-s-law-1963"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 10020,
      "title": "Police Woman",
      "year": "1974",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.422,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/eKqO6PMfSW4YUJYhZrB82TSjwor.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/10020/police-woman-1974"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 17362,
      "title": "Dr. Kildare",
      "year": "1961",
      "role": "as Dr. Roy Shigera",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.711,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/1zJFzPsnC3ih1sdY25XbHactXiB.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/17362/dr-kildare-1961"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 13897,
      "title": "Ben Casey",
      "year": "1961",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.867,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/sAqkISpjTRolBuLSh9wjIDl4kQa.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/13897/ben-casey-1961"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 2289,
      "title": "seaQuest DSV",
      "year": "1993",
      "role": "as Vietnamese President Chi",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.109,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/azbnl41bGqTcp2ajyfm9JYekEHp.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/2289/seaquest-dsv-1993"
    }
  ]
}