Shigeo Kato was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He played various guest roles across Tsuburaya Productions' works.
Career
Kato began acting after joining Toho in the 1950s.[1] Known for playing guest roles, his first starring role was in Our Memories of the Beach in 2018, around 70 years after his career began.[2]
He met Eiji Tsuburaya when he played a doctor in an educational film made by Tsuburaya before the Ultraman Series started, but was actually invited to play a police officer in Ultra Q, his first role in the franchise, by Eiji's son, Hajime Tsuburaya. He was informed about his part at the shooting location, without a script.[3]
Death
On June 14, 2020, Kato died of chronic renal failure at his home in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, at the age of 94.[4][5][6]
Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Ultra Q | Residential Police Officer | Episode 3 "The Gift From Space"[7] Uncredited |
| Protesting Farmer | Episode 8 "Terror of the Sweet Honey" | ||
| Ultraman | Third Thermal Power Plant Staff | Episode 3 "Science Patrol, Move Out" | |
| Kanagawa Prefectural Police Officer | Episode 6 "The Coast Guard Command" | ||
| Miyanomori Land Development Construction Site Worker | Episode 32 "The Endless Counterattack" | ||
| 1967 | Kaiju Booska | Electronics Store Owner | Episode 26 "Chamegon Is Born" |
| Construction Worker | Episode 26 "Underground Tank Expedition" | ||
| Ultraseven | Kanagawa Prefectural Police Officer | Episode 1 "The Invisible Challenger" | |
| TDF Long-Range Radar Room Staff | Episode 5 "Vanished Time" | ||
| 1971 | Return of Ultraman | Security Guard | Episode 4 "Definite Kill! Comet Kick" |
| 1972 | Emergency Directive 10-4·10-10 | Shimada | Episode 24 "Terror of the Black Scorpion" |
| 1973 | Fireman | Midoridai Housing Complex Resident | Episode 8 "The Micro Monster's Fear" Uncredited |
| Residential Police Officer | Episode 19 "The Space Monster vs. The Primeval Monster" Uncredited | ||
| Villager | Episode 28 "The Boy Who Came from Planet Argon" | ||
| Jumborg Ace | Yamada Hotel Owner | Episode 26 "Riddle! Nombirigon's True Colors" Uncredited | |
| Construction Site Worker | Episode 49 "Mystery! The Demon's Spell Severs Time" | ||
| 1974 | Ultraman Taro | Worker | Episode 52 "Steal the Ultra Life!" Uncredited |
| 1975 | Ultraman Leo | Drunken Salaryman | Episode 49 "The Terrifying Saucer Creature Series! - The Red Assassin That Brings Death!" |
| 1980 | Ultraman 80 | Old Fisherman | Episode 34 "I Caught a Strange Fish" |
| 1984 | Anime-chan | Person in the Neighborhood | |
| 1989 | The Men Who Made Ultraman: Moon Ship in a Forest of Stars | Toho Special Effects Cameraman | Uncredited |
| 1990 | Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars | Farmer | |
| 1996 | Ultraman Tiga | Yamada | Episode 16 "Resurrected Friend" |
Other Roles
- Mothra - Dam Worker
- Mothra vs. Godzilla - Islander
- Dogora - Soldier
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster - Mt. Aso Tourist
- King Kong Escapes - Who Henchman
- Destroy All Monsters - Mt. Fuji Soldier, Mt. Fuji TV Crew, Military Officer
- Godzilla vs. Hedorah - Construction Worker
- Terror of Mechagodzilla - Submarine Crew
- The Return of Godzilla - Ship's Radio Operator
- Godzilla vs. Megaguirus - Janitor
- Our Memories on the Beach - Kazuo Shigeta[2]
Gallery
Kato as a Residential Police Officer in Ultra Q
Kato as a Protesting Farmer in Ultra Q
Kato as a Third Thermal Power Plant Staff in Ultraman
Kato as a Kanagawa Prefectural Police Officer in Ultraman
Kato as a Miyanomori Land Development Construction Site Worker in Ultraman
Kato as a Kanagawa Prefectural Police Officer in Ultraseven
Kato as a TDF Long Range Radar Room Staff in Ultraseven
Kato as a Security Guard in Return of Ultraman
Kato as a Worker in Ultraman Taro
Kato as a Drunken Salaryman in Ultraman Leo
Kato as a Old Fisherman in Ultraman 80
Kato as a Toho Special Effects Cameraman in The Men Who Made Ultraman: Moon Ship in a Forest of Stars
Kato as a Farmer in Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars
Kato as Yamada in Ultraman Tiga
References
- ↑ https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2019/11/10/seventy-years-an-actor-shigeo-kato-on-his-early-life-and-acting-career/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://kamakura.keizai.biz/headline/342/
- ↑ https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2020/06/19/the-eighth-samurai-shigeo-kato-shares-stories-from-his-decades-long-acting-career/
- ↑ https://www.sankei.com/article/20200618-WURONIGGAVIYJAAFA5RJSEMZQU/
- ↑ http://hamano.blue/oshirase.html
- ↑ https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/36940
- ↑ http://takurama.seesaa.net/article/476824224.html