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1-19 of 19
- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Sonny Chiba was born as Sadao Maeda in Fukuoka, Japan on January 22, 1939. His father was a military test pilot. During his youth, he had an interest in both theater & gymnastics. He was talented enough to make the Japanese Olympic Team until a chronic back injury ended his career. However, he took a strong interest in karate under the guidance of the Mas Oyama during college & soon earned his first black belt. However, his life changed again when he was discovered during a talent search by Toei Studios in 1960. He soon began his screen career under the name Shinichi Chiba, appearing as the space chief in Uchu Kaisoku-ken. Over the next decade, he busied himself w/ appearances in Japanese crime thrillers, steadily building a reputation for playing hard men of few words & direct actions.
With his proficiency in karate, judo & kenpo, he took advantage of the early 1970s martial arts boom sparked by Bruce Lee. He starred in The Street Fighter (1974), playing a mercenary style street thug who would do anything for a price & take on anyone, even the yakuza. The approach of the film was quite different from the Bruce Lee films in that Lee only eliminated his enemies when he was defending his friends or his honor. Instead, he was only aiming for a fistful of dollars for his deadly services & would engage in mortal combat for the highest bidder, although this often clouded his judgement to his own detriment. The only person the Street Fighter respects is his martial arts teacher, karate master Masaoko who manages to easily out smart & out fight him. Upon its release, the film was criticized for its excessive violence.
A sequel quickly followed w/ him back in Return of the Street Fighter (1974), which was then followed by a third Street Fighter movie starring Etsuko Shihomi in the gritty Sister Street Fighter (1974). There was a fourth & final film in the series Gyakushu Satsujin ken.
He had firmly established himself as a key anti-hero of Asian martial arts cinema who said little & used his fists to sort out his troubles. With the demand high from fans, he remained busy on screen for the next 20 years, starring in numerous Japanese film & TV productions w/ an emphasis on bruising fights, samurai swords, yakuza gangsters & beautiful girls in trouble.
Outside of Japan, the Street Fighter film series has achieved enduring popularity through many midnight cult screenings. Their style heavily influenced Quentin Tarantino. He has used strong references & imagery from the Street Fighter movies in several of his films including True Romance (1993) and Pulp Fiction (1994). When he came around to casting for Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), he was eager to have Chiba accept the key role of the hot headed & sometimes humorous Okinawan sword maker Hanzo Hattori. He continued to be a major figure & influence in the world-wide passion in martial arts movies for over 3 decades, contributing to the genre by encouraging & training young hopefuls seeking to make their mark on screen.
He passed away on August 19, 2021.- Ri Djavi Alexandra was born on 30 January 1997 in Russia. She was an actress, known for Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018) and Kanchana 3 (2019). She died on 19 August 2021 in Siolim, North Goa.
- Louise Collins was born on 16 November 1932 in Wabash, Indiana, USA. She was an actress, known for The Third Man (1959), Danger Man (1960) and The Saint (1962). She died on 19 August 2021.
- Norma Pratt was born on 16 September 1930 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for The Toxic Avenger (1984), The Survivors (1983) and Stuck on You! (1983). She was married to Ralph E. Pratt. She died on 19 August 2021 in Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA.
- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Taheim Bryan was a producer and writer, known for Equal Standard (2020), The Businessman (2014) and South Side. He died on 19 August 2021 in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA.- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Hsing Lee was born on 20 May 1930 in Shanghai, China. He was a director and producer, known for Xiao cheng gu shi (1979), Yang ya ren jia (1965) and Zao an Taibei (1979). He was married to Wang Weijun. He died on 19 August 2021 in Taipei, Taiwan.- Rod Gilbert was born on 1 July 1941 in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was married to Judith Christy. He died on 19 August 2021 in the USA.
- Director
- Actor
Chuck Close was born on 5 July 1940 in Monroe, Washington, USA. He was a director and actor, known for Bob (1973), Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and Chuck Close (2007). He was married to Sienna Shields and Leslie Rose. He died on 19 August 2021 in Oceanside, New York, USA.- Hans F. Alexander was an actor, known for Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005). He died on 19 August 2021 in the USA.
- Cecilia Hartfeld was born on 27 October 1937 in Katy, Texas, USA. She died on 19 August 2021 in Katy, Texas, USA.
- James Loewen was born on 6 February 1942 in Decatur, Illinois, USA. He was married to Susan Robertson and Patricia Hanrahan. He died on 19 August 2021 in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Kirk Scoughton was born on 23 April 1964 in Orlando, Florida, USA. Kirk is known for Lady Belladonna's Tales From The Inferno (2018) and Fall Guy (2017). Kirk died on 19 August 2021 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.- Paul Fenn was born on 17 October 1945 in Chatswood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Paul was a writer and producer, known for On a Wind and A Prayer: Cyclone Tracy 30 Years On (2004). Paul was married to Robyn Ann Noffz. Paul died on 19 August 2021 in Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Raoul Cauvin was born on 26 September 1938 in Antoing, Hainaut, Belgium. He was a writer and cinematographer, known for Cédric, North & South (1989) and Les aventures des Schtroumpfs (1965). He was married to Marie-Jeanne. He died on 19 August 2021 in Belgium.- Make-Up Department
Betty Hamnac was born on 16 October 1946 in Louisiana, USA. She is known for The Host (2013), The Mist (2007) and Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009). She died on 19 August 2021 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, USA.- Shellz Turbo was an actor, known for Shellz Turbo: Remedial (2019) and Shellz Turbo: Fly High (2021). He died on 19 August 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
- William Clotworthy was born on 13 January 1926 in Westfield, New Jersey, USA. He was a writer, known for General Electric Theater (1953), 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments (2004) and Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny! (2003). He was married to Angela Plesuk, Joyce Holland and Jo Ann. He died on 19 August 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
- Vladimir Shcherbakov was born on 6 April 1940 in Krasnodar, USSR. He was an actor, known for Raskrutka (2010). He died on 19 August 2021 in Krasnodar, Russia.
- Bill Freehan was born on 29 November 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was married to Patricia O'Brien. He died on 19 August 2021 in Walloon Lake, Michigan, USA.