Post by reaperg on Jul 10, 2007 23:15:33 GMT -5
Actor Jerry Ito, whose Eurasian ancestry allowed him to play various nationalities and speak multiple languages in Japanese films, passed away July 7 in his Los Angeles home five days short of his 80th birthday.
To MSTies, Ito is recognized as Robert Okamura, the Q agent posing as a travel writer in the TV series-turned-Sandy Franked film "Mighty Jack", featured in Episodes K14 and 314. His most famous role was in Ishiro Honda's seminal monster film "Mothra", as Clark Nelson, the villainous entrepeneur who kidnapped the tiny twin fairies.
A popular emcee in postwar Tokyo nightclubs, his other films include "The Manster", "The Last War", and Kinji Fukasaku's "Message from Space". In recent years, he had appeared at Japanese monster fan conventions and film festivals in California.
Born Gerald Tamekichi Ito in New York City, he died from pneumonia while undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. He is survived by his wife, Sakae.
I met Jerry Ito several years ago at a film festival in San Francisco. He was a very gracious gentleman who was thrilled both for the fan appreciation and for seeing his "Mothra" co-star, Hiroshi Koizumi, for the first time in more than 20 years. Having just returned from G-FEST, this news is a real bummer.
Sayonara, Ito-sama, no arigato.
Jay
To MSTies, Ito is recognized as Robert Okamura, the Q agent posing as a travel writer in the TV series-turned-Sandy Franked film "Mighty Jack", featured in Episodes K14 and 314. His most famous role was in Ishiro Honda's seminal monster film "Mothra", as Clark Nelson, the villainous entrepeneur who kidnapped the tiny twin fairies.
A popular emcee in postwar Tokyo nightclubs, his other films include "The Manster", "The Last War", and Kinji Fukasaku's "Message from Space". In recent years, he had appeared at Japanese monster fan conventions and film festivals in California.
Born Gerald Tamekichi Ito in New York City, he died from pneumonia while undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. He is survived by his wife, Sakae.
I met Jerry Ito several years ago at a film festival in San Francisco. He was a very gracious gentleman who was thrilled both for the fan appreciation and for seeing his "Mothra" co-star, Hiroshi Koizumi, for the first time in more than 20 years. Having just returned from G-FEST, this news is a real bummer.
Sayonara, Ito-sama, no arigato.
Jay
