Haruo Nakajima

CrewActor Jan 1 (died age 88) Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan 1952–2019 (67 year career)

6.9 avg rating

Biography

Haruo Nakajima (Japanese: 中島春雄, Hepburn: Nakajima Haruo; January 1, 1929 – August 7, 2017) was a Japanese actor and stuntman. A pioneer of suit acting, he is best known for playing Godzilla in 12 consecutive films, starting from the original Godzilla until Godzilla vs. Gigan. Nakajima also played various other kaiju in Toho's tokusatsu films, including Rodan, Mothra and The War of the Gargantuas and also appeared in minor roles in Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Stray Dog.

Known For

Film

Seven Samurai

Bandit

Film

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

In Memory Of

Film

Godzilla

Film

The Hidden Fortress

Soldier (uncredited)

Film

Mothra vs. Godzilla

Godzilla

Film

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Godzilla

Film

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Godzilla

Film

Destroy All Monsters

Godzilla / Military Advisor

Filmography

Acting (82)

Movies (79)

The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga

2019

as Self - Suit Actor

8.6

Mifune: The Last Samurai

as Self - Actor

Men in Suits

as Self

Bringing Godzilla Down to Size: The Art of Japanese Special Effects

2008

as Himself

8.5

The Spirit of Godzilla

2004

9.0

Godzilla, King of the Monsters

1998

9.2

Faces of Horror

1989

as Gezora - Kameba (archive)

10.0

Godzilla 1985

1985

as Original Godzilla (archive footage) (uncredited)

6.8

Bloodthirsty Hawk

1977

as Bloodthirsty Hawk (uncredited)

9.0

Godzilla

1977

as Godzilla (uncredited)

6.8

Submersion of Japan

1973

as Prime Minister's Chauffeur

7.0

Godzilla vs. Megalon

1973

as Godzilla (archive footage) (uncredited)

6.2

Godzilla vs. Gigan

1972

as Godzilla / JSDF Officer / Background Comic Editor

6.4

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

1971

as Godzilla

6.8

First-Decade President vs. Second-Decade Staff

1971

Space Amoeba

1970

as Gezora / Ganimes

6.4

It's a Man's Way of Life

1970

All Monsters Attack

1969

as Godzilla

5.2

Black Comedy - Ah, Fool

1969

8.0

Latitude Zero

1969

as Griffon / Giant Rat / Bat Man

5.9

Destroy All Monsters

1968

as Godzilla / Military Advisor

6.9

Admiral Yamamoto

1968

as Staff of Flying Dragon / Staff of Rabaul

8.5

Son of Godzilla

1967

as Godzilla (water scenes)

6.4

King Kong Escapes

1967

as King Kong

6.2

Do Your Best! Godzilla

1967

as Godzilla (archive footage) (uncredited)

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

1966

as Godzilla / Infant Islander

6.3

The War of the Gargantuas

1966

as Gaira

6.3

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

1966

as Wong Henchman

5.4

Invasion of Astro-Monster

1965

as Godzilla

6.8

The Retreat from Kiska

1965

8.3

Frankenstein Conquers the World

1965

as Baragon / JSDF Soldier

6.8

Ironfinger

1965

as Detective (uncredited)

Key of Keys

as Gegen's Henchman

The School of Flesh

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

as Godzilla

Mothra vs. Godzilla

as Godzilla

Dogora

as Coal plant witness

6.8

Yearning

1964

as Shopkeeper

8.1

Legend of the Irresponsible Hero

1964

Matango

1963

as Matango

6.7

King Kong vs. Godzilla

1963

as Godzilla (uncredited)

6.5

Atragon

1963

as Mu Empire man / Self Defense Forces exec

6.6

Japan's No. 1 Playboy

1963

9.0

King Kong vs. Godzilla

as Godzilla

Gorath

as Maguma

Varan the Unbelievable

as Varan

Mothra

as Mothra

Daredevil in the Castle

Blueprint of Murder

The Human Vapor

as Transitional Vapor Man (uncredited)

7.1

The Storm of the Pacific

1960

6.0

The Last Gunfight

1960

as Henchman (uncredited)

6.2

Gigantis, the Fire Monster

1959

as Gigantis (uncredited)

6.4

Saga of the Vagabonds

1959

6.2

Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender

1959

8.5

The H-Man

1958

as Second Dissolved Sailor (uncredited)

5.7

The Hidden Fortress

1958

as Soldier (uncredited)

8.0

Varan

1958

as Varan

5.8

Adults Cannot Understand - Record of Youth

1958

Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean

1957

as Godzilla (uncredited)

8.6

Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman

The Mysterians

as Giant Robot

Rodan! The Flying Monster

1957

as Rodan / Meganulon (uncredited)

A Man in the Storm

Tokyo 1960

as Godzilla

Rebels on the High Sea

1956

Rodan

1956

as Rodan / Meganulon

6.5

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

1956

as (uncredited)

7.2

Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

1956

as Godzilla (uncredited)

6.5

I Live in Fear

1955

as Foundry employee (uncredited)

Godzilla Raids Again

as Godzilla

Beast Man Snow Man

as Mountain searcher

Seven Samurai

as Bandit

Godzilla

as Godzilla

Farewell Rabaul

as Soldier (uncredited)

8.4

Invisible Man

1954

as Haruo Akita / Invisible Man Akita / Takamitsu Nanjô (stunt double)

6.7

The Eagle of the Pacific

1953

as Zero Fighter in Flames (uncredited)

Mr. Pu

Sword for Hire

Television (3)

Ultraseven

1967

as U-Tom (Suit Actor)

Ultraman

as Neronga

Ultra Q

as Gomess (Suit Actor)

8.1

Crew (21)

Movies (21)

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

2019

In Memory Of

6.7

For the Love of Godzilla

In Memory Of

Godzilla vs. Gigan

Stunts

Space Amoeba

Stunt Double

Space Amoeba

Stunts

All Monsters Attack

Stunts

Destroy All Monsters

Stunt Coordinator

King Kong Escapes

Stunts

Do Your Best! Godzilla

1967

Stunt Coordinator

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

1966

Stunt Coordinator

6.3

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

1966

Stunts

6.3

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Stunt Coordinator

Mothra vs. Godzilla

Stunts

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Stunts

Varan

Stunts

The Mysterians

Stunts

Rodan! The Flying Monster

Stunts

Rodan

Stunts

Seven Samurai

Stunts

Invisible Man

Stunt Double

The Eagle of the Pacific

1953

Stunts

7.8