Haruo Nakajima
Date of birth: 1929-01-01
Place of birth: Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Known for: Acting
Also known as: 中岛春雄
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.
Movie Credits
The Hidden Fortress
1958-12-28
In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a
Latitude Zero
1969-07-26
A massive underwater volcano erupts and puts a group of investigative scientists in danger. They are
All Monsters Attack
1969-12-20
Ichiro Miki is a child living in the industrial district of Kawasaki, where his parents' constant st
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
1971-07-24
An ever evolving alien life-form arrives on a comet from the Dark Gaseous Nebula and proceeds to con
Matango
1963-08-11
Five vacationers and two crewmen become stranded on a tropical island near the equator. The island h
Adults Cannot Understand - Record of Youth
1958-11-11
The first work of 27-year-old director Eizo Sugawa, contrasting a politician father and his son, a d
Godzilla, the Monster of the Pacific Ocean
1957-03-14
Obscure French version of the original Godzilla. The film combines elements of the original Toho ver
Godzilla
1977-01-01
A re-edited Italian-language dubbed version of the original Godzilla, using as a basis the U.S. vers
Black Comedy - Ah, Fool
1969-06-14
A timid salaryman is the subject of this black comedy.
Men in Suits
2012-11-28
Godzilla… Predator… Robby the Robot… The Gill Man… These are some of the most iconic characters in c
Faces of Horror
1989-01-01
Although marketed as a "Faces of Death" type of documentary video, this is actually a compilation of
Destroy All Monsters
1968-08-01
At the turn of the century, all of the Earth's monsters have been rounded up and kept safely on Mons
Invisible Man
1954-12-29
When an invisible man is run down by a car it’s up to an eager young reporter and a strange clown to
Rebels on the High Sea
1956-08-08
A film by Hiroshi Inagaki.
Atragon
1963-12-22
The legendary empire of the lost continent of Mu reappears to threaten the world with domination. Wh
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
1964-12-20
After a meteorite unleashes a three-headed beast upon Tokyo, Mothra tries to unite with Godzilla and
Invasion of Astro-Monster
1965-12-19
Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens,
The Mysterians
1957-12-28
In Japan, scientifically advanced invaders from the war-destroyed planet Mysteroid cause an entire v
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
1966-12-17
Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other te
Varan the Unbelievable
1962-12-07
In an effort to find an economic means of purifying salt water, a joint U.S.-Japanese military comma
Godzilla Raids Again
1955-04-24
Two fishing scout pilots make a horrifying discovery when they encounter a second Godzilla alongside
Godzilla
1954-11-03
Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships are sunk near Odo Island. An expedition to the isla
Mr. Pu
1953-04-15
A math teacher loses his job while falling in love with a local girl.
Beast Man Snow Man
1955-08-14
Three competing parties all race against time to track down an elusive creature known only as the Sn
Mothra
1961-07-30
Shipwreck survivors found on the presumably uninhabited Infant Island leads to a scientific expediti
Son of Godzilla
1967-12-16
Reporter Goro Maki stumbles upon scientists conducting weather experiments on Sollgel Island in the
The H-Man
1958-06-24
When a narcotics deal goes sour and a suspect disappears, leaving only his clothes, Tokyo police que
What's Up, Tiger Lily?
1966-11-02
In comic Woody Allen's film debut, he took the Japanese action film "International Secret Police: Ke
Frankenstein Conquers the World
1965-08-08
During WWII, Germans obtain the immortal heart of Frankenstein's monster and transport it to Japan t
Mothra vs. Godzilla
1964-04-29
Journalists Ichiro Sakai and Junko cover the wreckage of a typhoon when an enormous egg is found and
King Kong vs. Godzilla
1962-08-11
The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponso
The Human Vapor
1960-12-11
A failed science experiment gives a librarian the ability to turn into a gaseous substance. He goes
Seven Samurai
1954-04-26
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs pr
King Kong Escapes
1967-07-22
An adaptation of the Rankin/Bass cartoon, "The King Kong Show". King Kong is brought in by the evil
Gorath
1962-03-21
In 1976, a drifting star named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Although
Space Amoeba
1970-08-01
When a space probe crash-lands on a far-flung Pacific atoll, the craft's alien stowaways decide to t
Godzilla vs. Gigan
1972-03-12
Manga artist Gengo Odaka lands a job with the World Children's Land amusement park only to become su
King Kong vs. Godzilla
1963-06-26
When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for a
Bringing Godzilla Down to Size: The Art of Japanese Special Effects
2008-08-03
A look at the unrecognized work of the talented artists and craftsmen who've maintained the traditio
Mifune: The Last Samurai
2016-12-02
An account of the life and work of legendary Japanese actor Toshirō Mifune (1920-97), the most promi
Varan
1958-10-14
When a rare species of butterfly is found in a mysterious valley in Japan, a pair of entomologists g
Farewell Rabaul
1954-02-10
A squadron of Japanese fighter pilots realise that they are never going to win the war when they und
Sword for Hire
1952-05-22
Soldiers Hayate and Yaheiji secretly escape from their besieged castle. Hayate has left behind his l
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
1956-01-03
A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal
Daredevil in the Castle
1961-01-03
During the raging war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the swordsman Mohei (whose family has
Blueprint of Murder
1961-01-03
Yuzo Kayama plays the protagonist, a whale-hunting cannon manufactuing supervisor, whose brother is
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
1956-04-27
During an assignment, foreign correspondent Steve Martin spends a layover in Tokyo and is caught ami
The Retreat from Kiska
1965-07-04
In 1943, the Aleutian island of Kiska was fortified by a small contingent of Japanese soldiers. When
Admiral Yamamoto
1968-08-14
As Japan joins in a political pact with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is
The Storm of the Pacific
1960-04-26
Lt. Koji Kitami is a navigator-bombardier in Japan's Naval Air Force. He participates in the Japanes
Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender
1959-07-04
In World War II, the commanding officer of a sub, against his will takes on board two Western diplom
Japan's No. 1 Playboy
1963-07-13
The music teacher, who danced the twist at the graduation ceremony of the solemn female school, was
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
1959-05-21
A prehistoric monster called Gigantis emerges alongside another creature named Angurus.
The War of the Gargantuas
1966-07-31
Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the
Saga of the Vagabonds
1959-08-09
Lord Taro must deliver a money chest but is robbed by brigands led by Jibu. One of Jibu's men, Rokur
Godzilla, King of the Monsters
1998-07-11
Documentary focusing on the Japanese Godzilla, featuring interviews with such people as Director Jun
Rodan
1956-12-26
Mining engineer Shigeru investigates the disappearance and death of his fellow coworkers when prehis
Submersion of Japan
1973-12-29
A team of geophysicists investigating seismic activity on the seafloor discover that the islands of
The Eagle of the Pacific
1953-10-21
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, a brilliant tactician, is a loyal subject of the emperor, despite his grav
I Live in Fear
1955-11-22
An aging foundry patriarch, gripped by terror of nuclear annihilation, tries to uproot his family to
The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga
2019-04-02
Japan, 1954. A legend emerges from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, devastated by atomic bombs i
Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman
1957-05-17
An American scientist tells two colleagues about the finding of an abominable snowman living in the
Yearning
1964-01-15
War widow Reiko rebuilds and runs the grocery shop in the house of her husband's family. Many years
Tokyo 1960
1957-12-27
A Filipino re-edit of the original Godzilla. Appears to have been edited in a similar fashion to the
Godzilla vs. Megalon
1973-03-17
Inventor Goro Ibuki creates a humanoid robot named Jet Jaguar. It is soon seized by an undersea race
Rodan! The Flying Monster!
1957-11-07
A mining engineer investigates the deaths of his colleagues, discovering prehistoric nymphs and a cr
The Last Gunfight
1960-01-03
Japanese police detective Saburo Fujioka is suspected of corruption, demoted, and sent to the city o
A Man in the Storm
1957-02-05
Judo expert Saburô Watari fights his judo master, Tsujido, while simultaneously in conflict with a k
The School of Flesh
1965-02-14
A love story about a former noblewoman who greedily enjoys love after breaking up with her unhappy m
It's a Man's Way of Life
1970-11-28
Comedy about a lewd man (Fujita) learning to enjoy life's little pleasures.
Ironfinger
1965-12-05
After being mistaken for an Interpol agent, a man who was just supposed to go on vacation gets mixed
Key of Keys
1965-10-22
Intelligence director Suritai asks agent Kitami to steal money from anti-government guerrillas.
First Decade Showa Company President vs. Second Decade Showa Company President
1971-05-22
After a major corporate merger, a middle-aged executive is demoted but unexpectedly appointed presid
Godzilla 1985
1985-08-23
Originally released in Japan as "The Return of Godzilla" in 1984, this is the heavily re-edited, re
Dogora
1964-08-11
A floating amorphous life-form descends from the atmosphere to consume carbon in the form of diamond