Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1904-02-11
Day of Death
1999-09-16
Place of Birth
Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
Utaemon Ichikawa
Biography
Utaemon Ichikawa was a Japanese film actor famous for starring roles in Jidaigeki from the 1920s to the 1960s. Trained in kabuki from childhood, he made his film debut in 1925 at Makino Film Productions under Shōzō Makino. Quickly gaining popularity, he followed the example of Makino stars such as Tsumasaburō Bandō in starting his own independent production company, Utaemon Ichikawa Productions, in 1927. It was there he first began the "Idle Vassal" (Hatamoto taikutsu otoko) series, which would become his signature role. When his company folded in 1936 as sound film came to the fore, he moved to Shinkō Kinema and then Daiei Studios before helping form the Toei Company after World War II. He served on the board of directors along with fellow samurai star Chiezō Kataoka. Utaemon appeared in over 300 films during his career. His son, Kin'ya Kitaōji, is also a famous actor in film and television.
Filmography (113)
The Lord's spy
1964
A Prisoner in Search of Daughter
1963
Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
1963
Street of Wandering Men
1963
The Mysterious Cape
1963
Tokaido Fullhouse
1963
Showdown at Lightning Pass
1962
Drunken Sword
1962
Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa
1962
Kisaragi Sword
1962
Knightly Advice
1962
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion
1962
Travels of Gonkuro
1961
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku
1961
