Date of Birth: December 10, 1933
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: July 21, 2006
Biography
Mako Iwamatsu, known simply as Mako, was a Japanese-American actor and voice actor renowned for his versatile performances in film, television, and theater. Born in Kobe, Japan, Mako immigrated to the United States in the early 1940s. He joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he gained his U.S. citizenship. After his military service, he pursued acting and attended the Pasadena Playhouse. Mako’s breakthrough came with his Academy Award-nominated role in the 1966 film “The Sand Pebbles,” where he played the character Po-Han. He continued to build a remarkable career with memorable roles in films such as “Conan the Barbarian” and “Seven Years in Tibet,” as well as providing iconic voice work for characters like Aku in the animated series “Samurai Jack” and Uncle Iroh in “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” In addition to his screen work, Mako was a pioneering figure in Asian-American theater. He co-founded the East West Players in Los Angeles, the nation’s first Asian-American theater company, which became a crucial platform for Asian-American actors and playwrights.
5 Interesting Facts about Mako
1. Mako was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “The Sand Pebbles” (1966).
2. He voiced the iconic character Aku in the animated series “Samurai Jack.”
3. Mako co-founded the East West Players, the first Asian-American theater company in the United States.
4. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, which led to his U.S. citizenship.
5. Mako also provided the voice for Uncle Iroh in the beloved animated series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mako
1. “I go into my library and all history unrolls before me.”
2. “I have to be very careful about the roles I accept because it can be very easy to fall into stereotypes.”
3. “Acting is not just about being someone else. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.”
4. “You cannot be an actor without having the soul of a poet.”
5. “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Mako’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Mako had two daughters, Mimosa Iwamatsu and Sala Iwamatsu.
Relevant Links
1. [Mako’s IMDb Profile](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0538683/
2. [Mako’s Wikipedia Page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mako_Iwamatsu
3. [East West Players Official Site](https://eastwestplayers.org/
4. [Samurai Jack – Aku Voice Clips](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iH5I1veUqo
5. [Avatar: The Last Airbender – Uncle Iroh Tribute](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PTk9rfa6Hk
