Miiko Taka
Miiko Taka | |
---|---|
Miiko Taka in 1958 | |
Born |
Seattle, Washington, U.S. | July 24, 1925
Other names | Betty Ishimoto |
Years active | 1957–1982 |
Spouse(s) |
Dale Ishimoto (1944–1958) Lennie Blondheim (1963–Present) |
Miiko Taka (高美以子 Taka Miiko) (born Miiko Shikata[1] July 24, 1925), is a Japanese American actress best known for co-starring with Marlon Brando as Hana-ogi in the 1957 movie Sayonara.
Early years
Taka was born in 1925 in Seattle, but raised in Los Angeles, California[2] as a Nisei;[3] her parents had immigrated from Japan. In 1942, she was interned with her family at the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona.[4]
'Sayonara'
After director Joshua Logan's first choice for the role of Hana-ogi, Audrey Hepburn, turned him down, he looked to cast an unknown actress.[3] Taka, who at the time was working as a clerk at a travel agency in Los Angeles, was discovered by a talent scout at a local Nisei festival.[2] Although she had no previous acting experience,[3] Variety gave her a positive review in their review of the film.[5] Warner Bros. gave her a term contract as a result of her performance in Sayonara.[6]
Post-'Sayonara' career
After Sayonara, she worked in films with James Garner, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, and Toshirō Mifune (whom she also worked alongside of in the 1980 television miniseries, Shõgun). She also served as an interpreter for Mifune as well as Akira Kurosawa when they visited Hollywood [7][8]
Personal life
Taka married Dale Ishimoto in Baltimore in 1944,[9] and they had one son, Greg Shikata, who works in the film industry, and one daughter. They divorced in 1958.[10]
She married Los Angeles TV news director Lennie Blondheim in 1963.[11]
Motion pictures
![](../I/m/Miiko_Taka_1958.jpg)
Year | Film | Role | Other notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1957 | Sayonara | Hana-ogi | Screen debut, co-star with Marlon Brando | |
1958 | Panda and the Magic Serpent | Fish Spirit | voice: English version | |
(Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford) | 1960 | Hell to Eternity | Ester | Stars Jeffrey Hunter |
1961 | Cry for Happy | Chiyoko | Reunites with Sayonara co-star Miyoshi Umeki | |
1961 | Operation Bottleneck | Ari | Shares top billing with Ron Foster and Norman Alden | |
1963 | A Global Affair | Fumiko | Stars Bob Hope | |
1965 | The Art of Love | Chou Chou | Reunites with Sayonara co-star James Garner | |
1966 | Walk Don't Run | Aiko Kurawa | Final film of Cary Grant's career | |
1968 | The Power | Mrs. Van Zandt | ||
1973 | Lost Horizon | Nurse | ||
1975 | Paper Tiger | Madame Kagoyama | first movie working with Toshirō Mifune | |
1978 | The Big Fix | Saleswoman | Stars Richard Dreyfuss | |
1982 | The Challenge | Yoshida's wife | Last film to date | |
See also
References
- ↑ Makino, Jimmy. "A Japanese-American Nisei in the 20th Century". Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- 1 2 Scott, John L. (May 5, 1957). "Fortune Bolt puts Miiko in Top Film Spot". Los Angeles Times. p. E3.
- 1 2 3 Capote, Truman (November 9, 1957). "The Duke in His Domain". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ↑ "National Archives: Miiko Shikata". Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ↑ "Sayonara". Variety. January 1, 1957. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ↑ Scheuer, Philip K. (November 17, 1958). "Faulkner Story Lifted Off Shelf, Cycle Looms; Miiko Taka to Stay On". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
- ↑ Beyette, Beverly (August 12, 1983). "Toshiro Mifune Takes Up the Samurai Role Again". Los Angeles Times. p. G1.
- ↑ Thomas, Kevin (November 28, 2002). "WORLD CINEMA; An edgy, epic collaboration; Director Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune made 16 films together; 13 will be screening at the Nuart". Los Angeles Times. p. E16.
- ↑ "Actress Miiko Taka of Movies Wins Divorce". Los Angeles Times. November 18, 1958. p. B1.
- ↑ "Miiko Taka Gets Divorce". New York Times. November 17, 1958.
- ↑ Paddleford, Clementine (November 17, 1963). "Barbecue at the Table". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Miiko Taka Filmography". fandango.com. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
- ↑ "Miiko Taka". imdb.com. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
- ↑ "Biography for Miiko Taka". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miiko Taka. |
- Miiko Taka at the Internet Movie Database
- Video of Miiko Taka as a presenter at an awards show on YouTube
- Trailer of Sayonara introduced by Miika Taka