Acting · Kobe, Japan · Born December 10, 1933
Mako was born in Kobe, Japan, the son of noted children's book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. His parents moved to the United States when he was a small child. He joined them there after World War II, in 1949, joining the military in the 1950s. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1956. When Mako first joined his parents in the USA, he studied architecture. During his military service, he discovered his theatrical talent, and trained at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Mako was married to actress Shizuko Hoshi with whom he had two daughters (both are actresses) and three grandchildren.
MovieSamurai Jack: The Premiere Movie
2017
as Aku (voice)
MovieRise: Blood Hunter
2007
as Poe
MovieTMNT
2007
as Splinter (voice)
MovieCages
2007
as Tan
MovieThe Slanted Screen
2006
as Himself
MovieMemoirs of a Geisha
2005
as Sakamoto
Maid in Akihabara
2005
TVAvatar: The Last Airbender
2005
as Iroh (voice)
TVSuper Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
2004
TVDuck Dodgers
2003
as Happy Cat / Ah-Choo (voice)
Lost at Home
2003
TVBlack Sash
2003
as Master Li
MovieBulletproof Monk
2003
as Mr. Kojima
MovieCruel Game
2002
as Straw Hat
TVWhat's New, Scooby-Doo?
2002
as The Ancient One (voice)
TVMonk
2002
as Master Zi
TVSamurai Jack
2001
as Aku (voice)
MoviePearl Harbor
2001
as Admiral Yamamoto
MovieRugrats in Paris: The Movie
2000
as Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)
TVThe Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
2000
MovieConan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
2000
as The Wizard (archive footage)
TVThe West Wing
1999
as Dr. Yosh Takahashi
MovieThe Accomplice
1999
as Santos
MovieAlegría
1999
as Old Momo
TVMartial Law
1998
as Master Reng
MovieThe Bird People in China
1998
as Shen
MovieSeven Years in Tibet
1997
as Kungo Tsarong
MovieRiot
1997
as Mr. Lee
MovieThe Sea Wolf
1997
MovieSworn to Justice
1996
as Mr. Young
TV7th Heaven
1996
as Henry Muranaka
MovieBalance of Power
1996
as Todo Matsumoto
TVJAG
1995
as Ichiro Higashimori
MovieMidnight Man
1995
as Buun Som
MovieCrying Freeman
1995
as Shudo Shimazaki
TVPlatypus Man
1995
as Mr. Loo
MovieHighlander III: The Sorcerer
1994
as Nakano
MovieA Dangerous Place
1994
as Sensei
MovieRed Sun Rising
1994
as Buntoro Iga
TVDiagnosis: Murder
1993
as Lee Moy
TVFrasier
1993
as Sam Tanaka
MovieRising Sun
1993
as Yoshida-san
TVWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Dr. Henry Lee
TVKung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993
as Li Sung
MovieRoboCop 3
1993
as Kanemitsu
MovieSidekicks
1992
as Mr. Lee
MovieNightingale
1992
as Narrator (voice)
MovieMy Samurai
1992
MovieStrawberry Road
1991
as Frank Machida
MovieThe Perfect Weapon
1991
as Kim
MoviePacific Heights
1990
as Toshio Watanabe
MovieTaking Care of Business
1990
as Mr. Sakamoto
MovieHiroshima: Out of the Ashes
1990
as Sgt. Moritaki
MovieFatal Mission
1990
as Trang
MovieMurder in Paradise
1990
as Capt. Kilalo
MovieAn Unremarkable Life
1989
as Max Chin
TVThe Paradise Club
1989
as Mr. Yamamoto
TVParadise
1988
as Kao
MovieThe Wash
1988
as Nobu Matsumoto
MovieTucker: The Man and His Dream
1988
as Jimmy
MovieSilent Assassins
1988
as Oyama
TVSupercarrier
1988
TVTour of Duty
1987
as Tran
MovieArmed Response
1986
as Akira Tanaka
MovieP.O.W. The Escape
1986
as Capt. Vinh
MovieKung Fu: The Movie
1986
as The Manchu
TVLovejoy
1986
as Toshiro Tanaka
TVSpenser: For Hire
1985
TVThe Equalizer
1985
as Jimmy Thanarat
MovieHawaiian Heat
1984
as Maj. Taro Oshira
TVHawaiian Heat
1984
as Maj. Taro Oshira
MovieConan the Destroyer
1984
as Akiro 'The Wizard'
MovieGirls of the White Orchid
1983
as Mori
MovieTestament
1983
as Mike
MovieThe Last Ninja
1983
as Aitaro Sakura
MovieThe Nightingale
1983
as Gardener / Minister
TVThe A-Team
1983
as Pastry Chef
TVVoyagers!
1982
TVBring 'Em Back Alive
1982
TVFaerie Tale Theatre
1982
as Gardener / Minister
MovieConan the Barbarian
1982
as The Wizard / Narrator
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Mike
MovieAn Eye for an Eye
1981
as James Chan
MovieUnder the Rainbow
1981
as Nakomuri
MovieThe Bushido Blade
1981
as Enjiro
TVThe Greatest American Hero
1981
as Master of Flowers
TVFlamingo Road
1981
TVMagnum, P.I.
1980
as Tozan
MovieHito Hata: Raise the Banner
1980
as Oda
MovieThe Big Brawl
1980
as Herbert
MovieWhen Hell Was in Session
1979
as Maj. Bai
TVA Man Called Sloane
1979
as Tanaka
TVThe Facts of Life
1979
as Mr. Wakamatsu
TVSupertrain
1979
as Kirby Yamashida
TVThe Incredible Hulk
1977
as Li Sung
Visions
1976
TVQuincy, M.E.
1976
as Mr. Yamaguchi
Mr. T and Tina
1976
MoviePacific Overtures
1976
as Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
MovieAnatomy of a Song
1976
MovieFarewell to Manzanar
1976
as Fukimoto
MovieWataridori: Birds of Passage
1976
as Narrator
MovieThe Killer Elite
1975
as Yuen Chung
TVWonder Woman
1975
as Mr. Brown
MoviePrisoners
1975
as Sgt. Nguyen
MovieKarate Sensei
1975
as Narrator
TVKhan!
1975
MovieJudge Dee and the Monastery Murders
1974
as Tao Gan
MovieThe Island at the Top of the World
1974
as Oomiak
MovieThe Green Hornet
1974
as Low Sing
MovieYokahama Mama
1972
as Rooster (voice)
TVKung Fu
1972
as Wong Ti Lu
TVM*A*S*H
1972
as Major Choi
MovieThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
as Kenji
TVAnna and the King
1972
as Sanum
MovieIf Tomorrow Comes
1971
as Tadashi
MovieSilence
1971
as Kichijiro
TVColumbo
1971
as Kanji Ousu
MovieFools
1970
as Psychiatrist
MovieThe Hawaiians
1970
as Mun Ki
MovieThe Challenge
1970
as Yuro
TVLove, American Style
1969
as Jack
TVRoom 222
1969
MovieThe Great Bank Robbery
1969
as Secret Agent Fong
TVHawaii Five-O
1968
as Kazuo Tahashi
MovieThe Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
1968
as Calvin Coolidge Ishimura
TVMannix
1967
as Tami Okada
TVIronside
1967
as Phil Tsang
MovieThe Sand Pebbles
1966
as Po-han
TVThe Time Tunnel
1966
as Lt. Nakamura
TVThe Green Hornet
1966
as Low Sing
MovieThe Ugly Dachshund
1966
as Kenji
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Yoshimura
TVI Dream of Jeannie
1965
as Kato
TVGidget
1965
TVThe Big Valley
1965
as Wong Lo
TVF Troop
1965
as Samurai Warrior
MovieMcHale's Navy Joins the Air Force
1965
as Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)
TVBroadside
1964
as The Japanese Commander
TVBurke's Law
1963
as Happy Tuava
TVArrest and Trial
1963
as Kyoto
TVMcHale's Navy
1962
TVThe Gallant Men
1962
TVEnsign O'Toole
1962
as Yamada, Jr.
TVThe Lloyd Bridges Show
1962
as Akai Takahashi
MovieNever So Few
1959
as Soldier in Hospital
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Ito Nakayama
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Nominee / Performer
