Tetsuro Tamba
324 movies · 31 TV shows
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jul 17, 1922
- Died
- Sep 24, 2006 (age 84)
- Place of birth
- Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
- Also known as
- 丹波 哲郎 · Tetzuro Tamba · Tetsurô Tanba · Tetsuro Tambo
Biography
Tetsuro Tamba (July 17, 1922 – September 24, 2006) was a distinguished Japanese actor known for his versatile talent across five decades. Recognized globally for his portrayal of Tiger Tanaka in the iconic 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice," Tamba's cinematic journey was a remarkable blend of cultural bridges.
Before embarking on his acting career, Tamba worked as an interpreter for the Allied Powers' Supreme Commander. Graduating from Chuo University in 1948, he later joined Shintoho company, making his debut in the film Satsujin Yougishain in 1951.
Read the full biography
Tamba's impact on Western audiences extended beyond Bond, with standout performances in films like Bridge to the Sun and The 7th Dawn. He earned acclaim in Japan as well, most notably as the lead in police dramas like Key Hunter and G-Men '75.
His talents weren't confined to the screen alone. Tamba lent his voice to characters like the Cat King in Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns and graced historical roles in television dramas, leaving an indelible mark on period pieces.
In 2005, Tamba faced health challenges but continued to contribute until the end. Sadly, he passed away in Tokyo at 84 due to pneumonia on September 24, 2006. His legacy lives on through his son, actor Yoshitaka Tamba, while his last appearances in the 2005 Taiga drama Yoshitsune and the 2006 film Sinking of Japan remain a testament to his enduring impact on Japanese cinema and beyond.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
Tetsuro Tamba: movies and TV shows
Acting (354)
- 2006
- 2005
- 2005
- 2004
- 2004
- 2004
- 2003
- 2003
- 2003 Yakuza Demon
as Michitane Tendou
- 2003
- 2003
- 2002
- 2002 The Twilight Samurai
as Tozaemon Iguchi
- 2002 Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
as Sanada
- 2002 The Cat Returns
as Cat King (voice)
- 2002 Graveyard of Honor
as Tetsuji Tokura
- 2002 The Happiness of the Katakuris
as Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
- 2002
- 2002
- 2002
- 2001
- 2001
- 2001
- 2001
- 2000 Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
as Old Master
- 2000 A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
as Tetsuo Hatake
- 2000 The Stupid Teacher
as Utaemon Baba
- 1999 Japanese Hell
as Asu Shino
- 1999
- 1999 Jubaku: Spellbound
as Tajiro Kawakami
- 1999 Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
as Tamba (voice)
- 1998 Screwed
as Landlord
- 1997 The Peking Man
as Osone
- 1997
- 1997
- 1995
- 1995
- 1994
- 1994
- 1994
- 1993
- 1993
- 1993
- 1992
- 1992
- 1991
- 1991
- 1991
- 1991
- 1991
- 1991 Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
as Master Zhang
- 1991
- 1991
- 1991 Female Neo-Ninjas
as Time Patrol leader
- 1991 Heat Wave
as Denkichi Tsuzaki
- 1990
- 1990
- 1990 Be-In Bully High School
as Ryotaro Sakurazawa
- 1990 Aurora Borealis
as Tsuneiro Kamisaka
- 1990
- 1990
- 1990
- 1990
- 1989
- 1989 Tokyo: The Last War
as Kanaami Kohou / Kan'ami Kouou
- 1989 Four Days of Snow and Blood
as Jinzaburi Shinzaki
- 1989
- 1989 Yakuza Ladies 3
as Takeo Sakanishi
- 1989
- 1989 Shogun's Shadow
as Hotta Masamori
- 1989
- 1988
- 1988 Tokyo Pop
as Mr. Dota
- 1988 A Taxing Woman's Return
as Sadohara
- 1987
- 1987
- 1987 Twilight of the Cockroaches
as Grandpa (voice)
- 1987
- 1987 Ronin on a Mission
as Ōishi Kuranosuke
- 1987
- 1987 Night Train
as Isaburo Tamura
- 1987 Tokyo Blackout
as Nakata
- 1986
- 1986 Be Free!
as Keizo Hasegawa
- 1986 April Fish
as Panapora Chief Handa
- 1986 Cabaret
as Yakuza boss
- 1986
- 1986
- 1985
- 1985 The Last True Yakuza
as Kazumasa Tashiro
- 1985
- 1985
- 1985
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984 Fireflies in the North
as Ishikura
- 1984 Zero
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984 Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
as Yagyu Munefuyu
- 1983
- 1983 A Madcap Corporation
as Yoshiteru Suma (Suma-gumi Boss)
- 1983
- 1983
- 1983
- 1983 The Geisha
as Kochi Notable
- 1983
- 1983 Battle Anthem
as Yamamoto
- 1983
- 1983
- 1982
- 1982
- 1982 Suspicion
as Kanetaka Okamura
- 1982 The Imperial Japanese Empire
as Hideki Tojo
- 1982
- 1982 Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
as Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
- 1982
- 1981 Call from Darkness
as Sugibayashi
- 1981 The Wild Daisy
as Gozaburo Saito
- 1981 The Imperial Navy
as Jisaburo Ozawa
- 1981 The Bushido Blade
as Lord Yamato
- 1981 Samurai Reincarnation
as Muramasa
- 1981
- 1981 The Last Days of Planet Earth
as Dr. Nishiyama
- 1980 Shogun's Ninja
as Tozawa Hakuunsai
- 1980 Drive for the Future
as Akiji Nishikawa
- 1980 Port Arthur
as Gentaro Kodama
- 1980
- 1980 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
as Tatsuo Akashi
- 1980 The Way to The Gold Medals
as President Sakakibara
- 1979 The Shogun Assassins
as Kato Kiyomasa
- 1979
- 1979 Hunter in the Dark
as Okitsugu Tanuma
- 1979
- 1978 The Fall of Ako Castle
as Yanagisawa
- 1978 Never Give Up
as General Wada
- 1978
- 1978 August Without Emperor
as Army General Mikami
- 1978 Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
as Kichibei
- 1978 The Incident
as Lawyer Kikuchi
- 1978 Message from Space
as Ernest Noguchi
- 1978 Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
as Ogasawara Gensinsai
- 1978
- 1977 Sugata Sanshiro
as Iinuma
- 1977 High Seas Hijack
as Captain Munekata
- 1977 Mount Hakkoda
as Colonel Kojima
- 1977
- 1977 The Alaska Story
as Arashuk
- 1976 Murderer!
as Nīto Kouken
- 1976 Zero Pilot
as Captain Saito
- 1976 The Corporation
as Kawamata
- 1976 Seven Nights in Japan
as Terrorist Leader (uncredited)
- 1976
- 1976
- 1976
- 1976
- 1975 The International Gang of Kobe
as Rinsei
- 1975
- 1975 Conflagration
as Captain Munekata
- 1975 The Bullet Train
as Sunaga
- 1975 Tidal Wave
as Prime Minister Yamato
- 1975
- 1975 All Men Are Brothers
as Lu Chun I
- 1975
- 1974 The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
as Kimitake Shugi / Moroki
- 1974 The Castle of Sand
as Detective Eitaro Imanishi
- 1974
- 1974 Prophecies of Nostradamus
as Dr. Nishiyama
- 1974 Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
as Nagumo
- 1974 Violent Streets
as Shimamura
- 1973 Submersion of Japan
as Prime Minister Yamamoto
- 1973
- 1973
- 1973
- 1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
as Tatsuo Akashi
- 1973
- 1973 Japan's Top Gangster
as Noboru Yamaguchi
- 1973
- 1973
- 1973
- 1973
- 1973
- 1972
- 1972 Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
as Kagemetsuke
- 1972
- 1972
- 1972
- 1972
- 1972
- 1972 The Water Margin
as Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
- 1972 Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
as Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
- 1971 Silence
as Cristóvão Ferreira
- 1971
- 1971
- 1971 The Wolves
as Genryu Asakura
- 1971 The Gambler's Counterattack
as Chief Inspector
- 1971 The Battle of Okinawa
as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
+ 154 more credits
Behind the camera (6)
- 1994
- 1990 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Executive Producer, Screenplay
- 1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
General Manager, Story, Screenplay
- 1988 Tetsuro Tamba's Spirit World
Director
- 1980 The Sand Boat
Executive Producer, Screenplay, Director
- 1964 Three Outlaw Samurai
Producer
Talk shows and appearances (1)
- 1974