Hiroyuki Sanada | |
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Sanada in October 2013
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Native name | 真田 広之 |
Born |
Hiroyuki Shimosawa October 12, 1960 Tokyo, Japan |
Nationality | Japan |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1968–present |
Spouse(s) | Satomi Tezuka (1990–1997; 2 children) |
Hiroyuki Sanada, MBE (真田 広之 Sanada Hiroyuki?, born Hiroyuki Shimosawa (下澤 廣之 Shimosawa Hiroyuki?) on October 12, 1960) is a Japanese actor. Sanada is currently a guest star as Takehaya in the apocalyptic drama The Last Ship.
Sanada was born in Tokyo. Originally planning to be an action star, he studied Shorinji Kempo and later took up Kyokushin kaikan karate. Sanada began training at the age of 11 with actor and martial arts star Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club, where he developed good all-round martial arts ability, and soon became Chiba's protégé. Sanada's martial arts film career introduced him to Michelle Yeoh, with whom he later starred in Danny Boyle's Sunshine. He has a long-standing friendship with Jackie Chan, although he did not star in a film with him before Rush Hour 3 in 2007. Sanada was often credited in his younger days as Henry, Harry, or Duke Sanada.
Sanada has established himself as a character actor who is adept at playing a variety of roles. He was first noticed as a serious actor in the movie Mahjong Hourouki directed by Makoto Wada. Since then he has acted in every Wada movie — works filled with humor and a nostalgia for classic films.