(Tokyo) Japanese actor Akira Takarada, who notably starred in the original film Godzilla from 1954 and several later films in the series, died in Tokyo at the age of 87.
Posted yesterday at 9:22
Takarada, who appeared at the premiere of his latest film earlier this month, died in hospital after contracting pneumonia, Japanese media reported on Friday.
“We are saddened to learn of the death of Akira Takarada. May his memory continue to inspire the lives of many fans of Godzilla “, indicates a tweet posted by the official account of the franchise Godzilla.
Akira Takarada rose to stardom quickly after playing the lead role of a heroic captain in the first Godzillaa film which notably reflected the fear of nuclear power in a post-war Japan marked by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A popular actor in Japan, he later reappeared in other films featuring Godzilla and played a small part in last whima 1961 film by Japanese cinema master Yasujiro Ozu.