Akiji Kobayashi
Acting
Born: 1930-09-06 in Yodobashi ward, Tokyo, Japan
Biography
Akiji Kobayashi (小林昭二, Kobayashi Akiji, September 6, 1930 – August 27, 1996), sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with Satsujin Yogisha in 1952. He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Toshio Muramatsu in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. From 1983-84, he appeared in the popular television detective series Seibu Keisatsu. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the Kamen Rider franchise. He was one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa films. His final film appearance was Yatsuhaka-mura as Head of a Factory directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1996. He was the official dubbing artist of John Wayne and Richard Crenna. Kobayashi died of lung cancer in Yokohama on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.
Known For
Kamen Rider
Tobei Tachibana
Ultraman
Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu
Tales of the Bizarre
Harakiri
Kamen Rider Stronger
Tobei Tachibana
Kojika Monogatari
ペニー
Kamen Rider V3
Tobei Tachibana
Professional Killers
Kamen Rider X
Tobei Tachibana
Attack, Jun
Operation: Mystery
Taizo Machida
Shogun Assassin
Lord Kurogawa
Seibu Keisatsu
Minami Choutaro
Island of Hell
Takezo
Kwaidan
(segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)
The Empty Table
The Longest Tunnel
宇宙少年ソラン
ワイラー
The Inugami Family
Kokichi Inugami
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Yuzo Tsuchiashi
47 Ronin
The House of Hanging
Sannosuke
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril
Narrator
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Yuzo Tsuchiashi
Afternoon When Flowers Fell
Ie Naki Ko
The Return of the Filthy Seven
The Kagestar
Inspector Keibu Tonda
Fushoku no kōzō
Detective Okawa
Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
Queen Bee
Detective Kogure
Kamen Rider Amazon
Tobei Tachibana
Internal Sleuth
Getting Any?
Chief of World Defence Force
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Nonaka Shôi
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman
Captain Toshio Muramatsu
The Makioka Sisters
Seitaro Jinba
Utamaro's World
Gamera 2: Advent of Legion
Senior sergeant