Ken Watanabe
Biography
Ken Watanabe is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. Born on October 21, 1959, in Uonuma, Niigata, Japan, he is known for his roles in various productions. He has appeared in a total of 104 known credits. Watanabe is known to English-speaking audiences for his portrayal of characters in films such as Letters from Iwo Jima and The Last Samurai. He has also worked with director Christopher Nolan in films like Batman Begins and Inception. Watanabe has received recognition for his performances, including nominations and awards. He is a male actor who has worked extensively in the entertainment industry.
Career overview
Ken Watanabe is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. He has appeared in numerous acting credits, with a total of 104 known credits. Watanabe is known for his work in various films, including those directed by Christopher Nolan. He has played significant roles in several Hollywood blockbusters, such as Batman Begins and Inception.
Watanabe's performances have garnered recognition, with nominations for notable awards. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Last Samurai. Additionally, he has won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor twice, in 2007 and 2010, for his performances in Memories of Tomorrow and Shizumanu Taiyō, respectively.
As a stage, film, and television actor, Watanabe has established himself as a versatile performer. His work has been recognized in Japan and internationally, with a notable presence in English-speaking audiences. His performances often feature him playing tragic hero characters, showcasing his range and depth as an actor.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Kyotojin no Hisokana Tanoshimi Rouge: Keisho (2026) as 東雲朔太郎
- Samurai Vengeance (2026) as Kinji Shinoda
- Unbound (2025) as Tamema Okitsugu
- Kokuho (2025) as Hanjiro Hanai
- TRUE COLORS (2025) as Taichirou Tsujimura
- The Final Piece (2025) as Shigeyoshi Toumyo
- LA PANTHÈRE DE CARTIER (2025)
- Kensuke's Kingdom (2024) as Kensuke (voice)
- All Lives (2024)
- The Creator (2023) as Harun
- True Love: Making The Creator (2023) as Self
- Tokyo Vice (2022) as Hiroto Katagiri
- Tokyo Vice (2022) Executive Producer
- Alice in Borderland (2020) as Old Gentleman
- Fukushima 50 (2020) as Masao Yoshida
- Toubousha (2020)
- 劇場の灯を消すな！PARCO劇場編 (2020)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa
- Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) as Lieutenant Hide Yoshida
- An Artist of the Floating World (2019) as Ono Masuji
- Segodon (2018) as Shimazu Nariakira
- Isle of Dogs (2018) as Head Surgeon (voice)
- 7 Guardians of the Tomb (2018) as Father
- The King and I (2018) as The King of Siam
- Bel Canto (2018) as Katsumi Hosokawa
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) as Drift (voice)
- NHK WORLD PRIME (2017) as Self - Presenter
- Dirty, Clean, & Inbetween (2017) as Restaurant Patron
- The Memories of Happiness (2017) as Taro Miura
- The Sea of Trees (2016) as Takumi Nakamura
- Rage (2016) as Yohei Maki
- 五年目のひとり (2016) as 키자키 슈지
- The Secret Lives of Kyoto Folk (2015) as 東雲朔太郎
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) as Drift (voice)
- Godzilla (2014) as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa
- Back of Father (2014) as Takamura Kouji
- Evolution Within Extinction (2014) as Self
- Snow Jack (2014) as Reiji Kurata
- Unforgiven (2013) as Jubee Kamata
- Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home (2012) as Junichiro Kawaguchi
- Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home (2012) Production Manager
- Gyoretsuno dekiru sodanjo (2011) as Regular
- Ai inochi - Shinjuku Kabukicho Kakekomi Dera - (2011)
- Inception (2010) as Saito
- Shanghai (2010) as Tanaka
- A School Behind Bars (2010)
- Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) as Mr. Tall
- The Unbroken (2009) as Hajime Onchi
- 刑事一代 平塚八兵衛の昭和事件史 (2009)
- ツナガルココロ 3 LOVE STORIES (2008)
- Earth (2007) as Narrator (voice)
- 星ひとつの夜 (2007) as Nonoyama Hiroji
- Red Sun, Black Sand: The Making of 'Letters from Iwo Jima' (2007) as Self
- Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi
- Memories of Tomorrow (2006) as Masayuki Saeki
- Memories of Tomorrow (2006) Executive Producer
- Batman Begins (2005) as Ra's al Ghul
- Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) as Le président
- Ashes and Snow (2005) as Japanese Narrator (voice)
- Year One in the North (2005) as Komatsubara Hideaki
- Vessel of Sand (2004) as Shuichiro Imanishi
- The Last Samurai (2003) as Moritsugu Katsumoto
- 川、いつか海へ 6つの愛の物語 (2003)
- T.R.Y. (2003) as Masanobu Azuma
- 藤田宜永サスペンス「異端の夏」 (2003)
- Another Battle/Conspiracy (2003) as Fujimaki Hiroaki
- 第三の時効 (2003)
- Mibu Gishiden: Shinsengumi de Ichiban Tsuyokatta Otoko (2002)
- 横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS) (2002)
- Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS (2002) as Okubo
- 強行犯捜査第七係 (2002)
- Hojo Tokimune (2001) as Hojo Tokiyori
- Love of a Thousand Years - Story of Genji (2001)
- Drowning Fish (2001) as Miyota
- Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2000) as Yokoyama
- Space Travelers (2000) as Sakamaki ("Crusher")
- The Whispered City (2000) as Ishida
- Shimei Tehai (1998)
- Bonds (1998) as Detective Sako Akio
- Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald (1997) as Raita Onuki
- Gokenin Zankuro (1995) as Zankuro Matsudaira
- The Fire Still Burns (1993) as Fujiwara Tsunekiyo
- Kagi-shi (1993)
- Baian the Assassin: Showdown (1993) as Dr. Baian
- Hanzo, the Razor (1993)
- Oda Nobunaga (1992)
- Chronicle of the Town Magistrate (1992) as Mochizuki Koheita
- Waga Machi (1992)
- Izakaya Chōji (1992)
- Ganryujima: Kojiro and Musashi (1992) as Kojirō
- Baian the Assassin (1991) as Fujieda Baian
- Takeda Shingen (1991) as Narrator
- A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era (1991) as Ryoma Sakamoto
- Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen (1990)
- Musuko no Gokikan (1990)
- Baian the Assassin (1990) as Dr. Baian
- Oda Nobunaga (1989)
- Harimao (1989) Producer
- Masamune Shogun (1987) as 伊達政宗
- Commando Invasion (1987)
- Hanekonma (1986) as Genzo Onodera
- The Making of "Tampopo" (1986) as Self
- The Sea and Poison (1986) as Toda
- Tampopo (1985) as Gun
- Kekkon Annai Mystery (1985)
- A Tale of Two Truncheons (1984)
- MacArthur's Children (1984) as Tetsuo Nakai