Ken Takakura (February 16, 1931 – November 10, 2014), formerly known as Tsuyoshi Oda, was a Japanese film and television actor and singer who graduated from meiji University in Tokyo, Japan.
In 1956, he starred in his first film "Electric Light Karate", thus officially entering the show business circle.
In 1961, he starred in the suspense film "Devil's Handball Song". In 1964, he began to star in the action series "The Legend of Japanese Heroes". In 1965, he began starring in a series of action movies such as "Abashiri Fan field" and "The Legend of showa".
In 1970, he won the Best Actor Award at the Kyoto Civic Film Festival for his film "The Legend of the Ranger".
In 1976, he starred in the crime action film "The Hunt", with which he was recognized by Chinese audiences.
。 In 1977, he starred in the love movie "Happy Yellow Handkerchief", for which he won the Best Actor Award at the first Japan Academy Awards and the 51st Film Shunbun Awards For Male Lead.
In 1980, he starred in the feature film "The Call of the Distant Mountains".
In 1981, he starred in the feature film "Station" released.
In 1983, he starred in the action movie Antarctic Story, which grossed 5.9 billion yen.
In 1989, he starred in the crime action film "Black Rain".
In 1994, he starred in the martial arts action movie "The Assassin of forty-Seven".
In 1999, he starred in the feature film "Railroad", which grossed 2.05 billion yen, and he also won the Best Actor Award at the 23rd Montreal International Film Festival and the Best Actor Award at the 23rd Japan Academy Film Awards.
In 2001, he starred in the feature film Fireflies.
In 2005, he starred in the feature film "A Thousand Miles and a Single Ride" was released in China.
On November 10, 2014, Ken Takakura died of malignant lymphoma at the age of 83.