History Creator / ToshiroMifune

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite having been wild, unpredictable and sometimes thoughtless and insensitive, at the same time he could be generous, helpful and personable.

Toshiro Mifune (1920–1997) was a prolific Japanese actor best known for his numerous collaborations with Creator/AkiraKurosawa (e.g ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'', ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''Film/{{Sanjuro}}'' and every other movie Kurosawa made between 1948 and 1965 with the exception of ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'') as well as many other leading roles. Mifune was to JidaiGeki what Creator/ClintEastwood is to TheWestern -- if there was a BadAss {{Samurai}} character to be played in the 1950s or early 1960s, chances are he was on the short list for it. In particular, his gruff, calculating {{Ronin}} character from ''Yojimbo'' was to be the model for Eastwood's "[[Film/DollarsTrilogy Man with No Name]]" and numerous other [[AntiHero antiheroes]].

* {{Badass}} He was a superb all-round athlete who did all his own stunts in his movies.

* EnforcedMethodActing: Was on the giving and receiving end of this. In ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', the arrows that were supposed to miss him were shot by real archers; Mifune's reaction was a genuinely frightened one. While filming ''Film/NineteenFortyOne'', he was disgusted at the lack of discipline among the actors playing the submarine crew, so, having served in the Japanese military in World War II, he got into character and stayed in character until the others realised he was being serious and began acting more authentic.

* PlayingWithCharacterType: Played a wide range of samurai or warrior characters, but they were normally rebels, misfits or nonconformists.

* DeathbyDespair: Supposedly how poor Toshiro met his end.

According to legend, Mifune's career was an accident. Toshiro Mifune needed work, and a friend told him that the studio was hiring maintenance men. When he got there, he stepped into the wrong line and wound up at auditions.

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Film/GrandPrix'' and ''Film/HellInThePacific''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuinness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[note]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available. Mifune's daughter Mika [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/toshiro-mifune-turned-down-star-845721 says]] he himself turned down the role. [[/note]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[note]]The VideoGame/SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/note]] He was also offered the role of Darth Vader, but turned it down as his face would have been covered by a mask.

And it should be noted Mifune was a [[JapaneseChristian devout Methodist]]. RealMenLoveJesus, indeed.

* TheAlcoholic: Sadly led to his death of organ failure

* ''[[Film/{{Scandal1950}} Scandal]] (1950)

Toshiro Mifune was a prolific Japanese actor best known for his numerous collaborations with Creator/AkiraKurosawa (e.g ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'', ''Film/SevenSamurai'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''Film/{{Sanjuro}}'' and every other movie Kurosawa made between 1948 and 1965 with the exception of ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'') as well as many other leading roles. Mifune was to JidaiGeki what Creator/ClintEastwood is to TheWestern -- if there was a BadAss {{Samurai}} character to be played in the 1950s or early 1960s, chances are he was on the short list for it. In particular, his gruff, calculating {{Ronin}} character from ''Yojimbo'' was to be the model for Eastwood's "[[Film/DollarsTrilogy Man with No Name]]" and numerous other [[AntiHero antiheroes]].

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Film/GrandPrix'' and ''Film/HellInThePacific''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuinness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[note]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available. Mifune's daughter Mika [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/toshiro-mifune-turned-down-star-845721 says]] he himself turned down the role. [[/note]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The VideoGame/SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]] He was also offered the role of Darth Vader, but turned it down as his face would have been covered by a mask.

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Film/GrandPrix'' and ''Film/HellInThePacific''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuinness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[labelnote:*]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available. Mifune's daughter Mika [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/toshiro-mifune-turned-down-star-845721 says]] he himself turned down the role. [[/labelnote]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The VideoGame/SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]] He was also offered the role of Darth Vader, but turned it down as his face would have been covered by a mask.

In between 1993 and 1997, Kurosawa and Mifune had a few meetings with one another at funerals and award ceremonies, most notably at the 1993 funeral of their mutual friend, ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' director Ishiro Honda. It seemed that their relationship had begun to repair itself. Rumor had it that they would collaborate once more, but Mifune died in 1997 and Kurosawa a year after him. It's said that Mifune actually succumbed to DeathByDespair: his health had been really bad after a stress-triggered heart attack, but his ex-wife Sachiko Yoshimine was helping him overcome it, and when she suddenly died of cancer his physical and mental state took a nosedive and he simply lost the will to live.

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Grand Prix'' and ''[[EnemyMine Hell in the Pacific]]''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuinness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[labelnote:*]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available. Mifune's daughter Mika [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/toshiro-mifune-turned-down-star-845721 says]] he himself turned down the role. [[/labelnote]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]] He was also offered the role of Darth Vader, but turned it down as his face would have been covered by a mask.

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Grand Prix'' and ''[[EnemyMine Hell in the Pacific]]''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuinness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[labelnote:*]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available. Mifune's daughter Mika [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/toshiro-mifune-turned-down-star-845721 says]] he himself turned down the role. [[/labelnote]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]]

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Grand Prix'' and ''[[EnemyMine Hell in the Pacific]]''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuinness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[labelnote:*]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available.[[/labelnote]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]]

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Grand Prix'' and ''[[EnemyMine Hell in the Pacific]]''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of [[ExecutiveMeddling being told by higher ups]] to hire [[Creator/AlecGuiness a well-known (to Western audiences) actor]] for the role [[labelnote:*]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available.[[/labelnote]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]]

Mifune and Kurosawa had a falling out in the late 1960s after the filming of ''Film/RedBeard'',[[note]]Reportedly Kurosawa insisted on holding Mifune to a contract provision requiring him to grow a natural beard and prohibiting him from shaving it (in case he was needed for re-shoots) throughout the entire lengthy post-production process, effectively preventing Mifune from taking any other acting jobs for two whole years at the peak of his fame and nearly bankrupting him.[[/note]] and after that Mifune began popping up occasionally in Western film productions such as ''Grand Prix'' and ''[[EnemyMine Hell in the Pacific]]''. This eventually culminated in Mifune appearing in the American miniseries ''[[Literature/AsianSaga Shogun]]'' (as the resident MagnificentBastard, Toranaga), resulting in acclaim stateside but criticism in Japan due to the lack of historical accuracy. If GeorgeLucas would have had his way instead of being told by [[ExecutiveMeddling higher ups to hire a well-known (to Western audiences) actor for the role]] [[labelnote:*]]There are also claims that Fox was hesitant to use Mifune due to his English being difficult to understand, necessitating his lines to be dubbed; other claims say it was because he wasn't available.[[/labelnote]], Mifune would have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen played Obi-Wan Kenobi]] in ''[[ANewHope Star Wars]]''.[[labelnote:*]]The SoulSeries' Mitsurugi, an Expy of Mifune, ''was'' Kenobi. Or at least, his Japanese voice was.[[/labelnote]]

Toshiro Mifune was a prolific Japanese actor best known for his numerous collaborations with Creator/AkiraKurosawa (e.g ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'', ''SevenSamurai'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''Film/{{Sanjuro}}'' and every other movie Kurosawa made between 1948 and 1965 with the exception of ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'') as well as many other leading roles. Mifune was to JidaiGeki what Creator/ClintEastwood is to TheWestern -- if there was a BadAss {{Samurai}} character to be played in the 1950s or early 1960s, chances are he was on the short list for it. In particular, his gruff, calculating {{Ronin}} character from ''Yojimbo'' was to be the model for Eastwood's "[[Film/DollarsTrilogy Man with No Name]]" and numerous other [[AntiHero antiheroes]].

Toshiro Mifune was a prolific Japanese actor best known for his numerous collaborations with Creator/AkiraKurosawa (e.g ''{{Rashomon}}'', ''SevenSamurai'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''Film/TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''{{Sanjuro}}'' and every other movie Kurosawa made between 1948 and 1965 with the exception of ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'') as well as many other leading roles. Mifune was to JidaiGeki what Creator/ClintEastwood is to TheWestern -- if there was a BadAss {{Samurai}} character to be played in the 1950s or early 1960s, chances are he was on the short list for it. In particular, his gruff, calculating {{Ronin}} character from ''Yojimbo'' was to be the model for Eastwood's "[[Film/DollarsTrilogy Man with No Name]]" and numerous other [[AntiHero antiheroes]].

Toshiro Mifune was a prolific Japanese actor best known for his numerous collaborations with Creator/AkiraKurosawa (e.g ''{{Rashomon}}'', ''SevenSamurai'', ''Film/ThroneOfBlood'', ''TheHiddenFortress'', ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'', ''{{Sanjuro}}'' and every other movie Kurosawa made between 1948 and 1965 with the exception of ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'') as well as many other leading roles. Mifune was to JidaiGeki what Creator/ClintEastwood is to TheWestern -- if there was a BadAss {{Samurai}} character to be played in the 1950s or early 1960s, chances are he was on the short list for it. In particular, his gruff, calculating {{Ronin}} character from ''Yojimbo'' was to be the model for Eastwood's "[[Film/DollarsTrilogy Man with No Name]]" and numerous other [[AntiHero antiheroes]].