Kunie Tanaka

Kunie Tanaka
Born(1932-11-23)November 23, 1932
Toki District, Gifu, Empire of Japan
DiedMarch 24, 2021(2021-03-24) (aged 88)
Japan
OccupationActor
Years active1955–2021

Kunie Tanaka (Japanese: 田中 邦衛, Hepburn: Tanaka Kunie, November 23, 1932 – March 24, 2021[1]) was a Japanese actor. Tanaka first made a name for himself as the lecherous antagonist of the Wakadaishō series (1961–1981) of films.[2] He is also well-known for his roles in Kinji Fukasaku's yakuza films, namely the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series (1973–1974), and for starring in the Kita no Kuni Kara (1981–2002) television series.[2][3]

Tanaka was nominated for five Japanese Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor for Gakko in 1993.[4] He also won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for Nogare no Machi and Izakaya Chōji in 1983, and the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for Uhohho Tankentai in 1986.[3] For his contributions to the arts, the Japanese government decorated Tanaka with the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1999 and the Order of the Rising Sun in 2006.

  1. ^ "俳優の田中邦衛さん死去 88歳「北の国から」などで存在感". NHK (in Japanese). 2021-04-02. Archived from the original on 2021-04-02.
  2. ^ a b "田中邦衛さん【略歴】昭和５６年「北の国から」で黒板五郎役で"伝説"に". Daily Sports (in Japanese). 2021-04-02. Archived from the original on 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  3. ^ a b "田中邦衛追悼：助演から主演まで、どんな作品でもオーラ全開の存在感". Cinemas+ (in Japanese). 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  4. ^ 第 17 回日本アカデミー賞優秀作品 (in Japanese). Japan Academy Prize. Retrieved 2010-12-16.