An influential and pioneering force in the Asian American acting community was lost when veteran Japanese American actor Mako died on July 21, 2006. Mako succombed to esophageal cancer at his home in Somis, California, with his sister Momo Yashima by his side. He was 72.
His most recent appearance on film was the 2006 documentary
THE SLANTED SCREEN, where director Jeff Adachi explores how Asian American men have been portrayed on American television and on the Hollywood Screen.
Mako's film, television and theatrical career spanned over forty years, during which he received a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for his role as Po-han opposite Steve McQueen in the 1966 film
THE SAND PEBBLES, and a Best Leading Actor in a musical Tony nomination for his portrayal of the Reciter in the 1976 production of Stephen Sondheim's musical
PACIFIC OVERTURES. It is a testament to Mako's talent and integrity as the consumate artist that when presented with roles early on in his career that were stereotypical, he brought his performances to another level.
Born on December 10, 1933 to activist anti-militarist painters Taro Yashima and Mitsu Iwamatsu in Kobe, Japan, Mako Iwamatsu was a sickly child. When his parents left Japan for the United States to study art, the young Mako stayed behind to live with his grandparents. He joined his parents at age 15 in New York after WWII. The story of Taro reuniting with Mako after the war in the late 1940's is told in Taro Yashima's "picture book"
HORIZON IS CALLING.
Mako studied at the Pratt Institute in New York, focusing on a degree in architecture. Bit by the theater bug when a classmate enlisted his services to design and build a stage set, he missed many classes and as a result, lost his student draft deferment.
Having the opportunity to travel throughout Korea and Japan during his two year stint in the military in the 1950's, he re-immersed himself in Japanese culture. After his discharge, he relocated to California and studied theater at the Pasadena Playhouse. In 1965, he co-founded the nation's first Asian American theater company, East West Players, in Los Angeles. Serving as its artist director until 1989, he and the company paved the way for many, providing an invaluable training ground and opportunities for young Asian American artists to hone their theatrical craft.
According to author Frank Chin, "Asian-American art and culture has lost an inspiration to writers and actors and art may have lost the only Asian with guts enough to put his talent where his vision is. He was an Asian American who could rough and tumble instead of crawl and bat their eyes. Neither he nor his wife Susie wants a funeral or a memorial, or any kind of service."
A familiar face in film and television, memorable appearances on film include
THE UGLY DASCHUND (1966),
THE GREEN HORNET (1966),
CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982),
CONAN THE DESTROYER (1984),
RISING SUN (1993),
SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET (1997),
PEARL HARBOR (2001),
BULLET PROOF MONK(2003), and
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA (2005). On TV, he appeared on
MCHALE'S NAVY,
I SPY,
MASH,
QUINCY,
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER,
HAWAII FIVE-O,
KUNG FU,
THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO AND
THE WEST WING, just to name a few. His trademark raspy voice, may be familiar to cartoon fans as the voice of the evil demon Aku in the animated series
SAMURAI JACK, the parody of Aku, Achoo, in
DUCK DODGERS, and as Uncle Iroh in
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER.
His motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 7095 Hollywood Blvd.
Besides his sister Momo Yashima, Mako is survived by his wife dancer, choreographer and actress Shizuko (Susie)Hoshi, their two daughters, Sala Icsman, and Mimosa Skelton; and two grandchildren.
Related Articles
New York Daily News Editor Wayman Wong's MAKO: A Tribute to a Fine Actor 
