`You Only Live Twice` actor Tetsuro Tamba dies aged 84

26-Sep-2006 • Actor News

Tetsuro Tamba has passed away at the age of 84. He died of pneumonia on 24th September 2006 in Tokyo, Japan at 11:27pm.

The details of his death were confirmed by Japanese news outlet Asahi. His wake will be held on the 29th, with his funeral the following day.

Born on 17th July 1922 in tokyo, Tetsuro Tamba was perhaps best known by Western audiences for his role as Tiger Tanaka in the 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice".

Above: Tetsuro Tamba (as Tiger Tanaka) and Sean Connery (as James Bond) in 1967's "You Only Live Twice"

By then, he had among other roles appeared in two films by director Masaki Kobayashi: Harakiri and Kwaidan. He also portrayed the lead character in the police dramas KeyHunter and G-Men '75, the latter of which remains his best-known role in Japan.

He also portrayed the voice of the "Cat King" in the original Japanese version of the Studio Ghibli anime film The Cat Returns.

More recently, he had parts in Twilight Samurai and two Takashi Miike films, The Happiness of the Katakuris and Gozu, as well as acting as a spokesperson for the Dai Reien Kai spiritual movement.

He is survived by his son, Yoshitaka Tanba, who is also an actor.

Thanks to `Allen` & `Shigeki ` for the alerts.