Sonny Chiba was a Japanese martial artist and actor known for roles in the “Kill Bill” series and “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.”
- Died: August 19, 2021 (Who else died on August 19?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in Kimitsu, Japan of COVID-19 at the age of 82.
- We invite you to share condolences for Sonny Chiba in our Guest Book.
Acting and martial arts career
Chiba was a gymnast in his youth, learning martial arts while in college. He eventually became a fourth-degree black belt in karate as well as mastering several other martial arts styles. Chiba was discovered in a Japanese talent search, and he began appearing in movies in the early 1960s. By the 1970s, he was one of the stars of martial arts movies, with his 1974 film “The Street Fighter” achieving international success. Chiba starred in dozens of Japanese movies, including science fiction features and action films such as “Invasion of the Neptune Men” (1961), “The Yagyu Conspiracy” (1978), and “Deadly Outlaw: Rekka” (2002). He became one of Japan’s biggest action stars and a cult favorite in the West, with his fans including filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino cast Chiba as sushi chef and retired samurai Hattori Hanzo in his 2003-2004 “Kill Bill: Volume 1” and “Kill Bill: Volume 2.” In the 2005 film “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” Chiba played Yakuza crime boss Kamata.
Notable quote
“I love acting, love martial arts and love marrying the two on film. I am always grateful to be on set and working with amazing people.” —from a 2011 interview for Media Mikes
Tributes to Sonny Chiba
Full obituary: Deadline
