Godzilla star, Akira Takarada, dies at 87
Veteran Japanese actor and voiceover artist, Akira Takarada, is dead.
Best known for his appearances in Godzilla films throughout the years, Takarada died at the age of 87.
Producers of the Godzilla series, Toho Studios, made the announcement on its verified Twitter page late Thursday.
The announcement read, “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many Godzilla fans.”
Takarada played the role of a sailor called Hideto Ogata in the 1954 original Godzilla film. He continued to star in other Godzilla film produced in 1956, 1964, 1992, and the lastest one in 2004.
He also featured in other movies such as Half Human, Romantic Daughters, A Rainbow Plays in My Heart, The Birth of Japan, etc.
The Japanese star was also a popular voice artist who played the lead character in Doctor Dolittle. He also voiced Jafar in the popular animation, Aladdin; and Ratigan in The Great Mouse Detective.