Japanese-American actor Mako Iwamatsu, who received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor when he played the Chinese character Po-ha in the 1966 movie The Sand Pebbles, is credited for Hollywood’s acceptance of Asian-Americans as serious actors, not merely caricatures or stereotypes. Last Friday, Mako died of esophageal cancer.
During Mako’s career in film and theater, he co-founded the first Asian-American theater company, East West Players, where he trained aspiring actors and playwrights. Mako had roles in the films Conan the Barbarian, Seven Years in Tibet, Pearl Harbor and the Japanese film Owls Castle.
Mako was the voice of evil demon Aku in the animated series Samurai Jack, and as the parody of Aku, Achoo, in Duck Dodgers, as well as Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
According to artistic director Tim Dang of East West Players, “If it wasn’t for Mako there wouldn’t have been Asian-American theater. He is revered as sort of the godfather of Asian-American theater.” Born in Kobe, Japan, Mako was the son of noted children’s book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mako was 72.
