Sonny Chiba
Known for Acting · 237 credits
- Born
- 1939-01-23
- Died
- 2021-08-19
- Place of birth
- Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Also known as
- Shinichi Chiba · Sadaho Maeda · Sonny Chiba
Biography
Sonny Chiba (born January 23, 1939 - August 19, 2021), also known as Shin'ichi Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984.
Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (2006).
Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Sonny Chiba, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
TV Shows (27)
Wind and Cloud
2002
as 雄霸
Samurai Banners
2007
Key Hunter
1968
as 風間洋介
Shadow Warriors
1980
as Hattori Hanzō
Space Sheriff Gavan
1982
as Space Sheriff Voicer
Space Sheriff Sharivan
1983
as Voicer (in flashback)
Team Astro
2005
as Shuro
Nanairo Kamen
1959
as Kotaro Ran
风云争霸
2004
as 东方青木 / 东方白石
Layout
2021
Shotgun Marriage
2001
as Ittetsu Kotani
The Yagyu Conspiracy
1978
as Yagyu Yubei
Yagyu Jubei Secret Quest
1982
as Yagyu Jubei
Robot Detective
1973
as Keitarō Shinjō
Daihijôsen
1976
Yagyu's Secret Quest
1980
as Yagyu Jubei
The Bodyguard
1974
Takeda Shingen
1991
as Takeda Nobutora
Yume ni Mita Hibi
1989
as Sekimoto Shinsaku
Notes on Tokugawa Villainies
1992
as Matsudaira Tadateru
Oda Nobunaga
1989
Messenger of Allah
1960
as Detective Goro Narumi / Messenger of Allah
Seiryuu Densetsu
1996
Tokugawa Ieyasu
1988
Juujiro
1978
Late Night Salute
1986
Blazing Dragnet
1975
Movies (210)
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
2011
as Hattori Hanzo
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
2003
as Hattori Hanzo
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
2004
as Hattori Hanzo
The Storm Riders
1998
as Lord Conqueror
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
2006
as Uncle Kamata
The Bullet Train
1975
as Aoki
Battle Royale II: Requiem
2003
as Makio Mimura
Survive Style 5+
2004
as Azama
Shogun's Samurai
1978
as Jûbê Yagyû
Virus
1980
as Dr. Yamauchi
The Bushido Blade
1981
as Prince Ido
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
1973
as Katsutoshi Otomo
Four Sisters
1962
as Shinkichi Hayami
Iron Eagle III
1992
as Horikoshi
The Street Fighter
1974
as Takuma Tsurugi
Dead Angle
1979
Born to Be King
2000
as Ichiro Kusakari
Unification Of Japan 2
2013
as Seizo Gonda
Samurai Reincarnation
1981
as Jubei Yagyu
Shogun's Shadow
1989
as Iba Shoemon
The Executioner
1974
as Ryuichi Koga
Legend of the Eight Samurai
1983
as Inuyama Dosetsu Tadatomo
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
1977
as Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
Shogun's Ninja
1980
as Shiranui Shogen
Cabaret
1986
as Yakuza boss
Japan's Don
1977
as Tsuneyoshi Sakota
Don's Road 9
2013
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
2002
as Yasunori Hijikata
The Bodyguard
1973
as Naoto Kiba
Roaring Fire
1981
as Mr. Magic
Message from Space
1978
as Prince Hans
Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza
2009
as Himself
The Fall of Ako Castle
1978
as Fuwa Kazuemon
G.I. Samurai
1979
as Lt. Yoshiaki Iba
Sister Street Fighter
1974
as Seiichi Hibiki
Shingo's Ten Duels
1990
as Umei Tamon
Hunter in the Dark
1979
as Samon Shimoguni
Body Count
1995
as Makato
Kotaro, An Audacious Karate Boy
1984
as Sonny Sullivan
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
1974
as Ryuichi Koga
Fall Guy
1982
The Noise
2015
Sushi Girl
2012
as Sushi Chef
Hokuriku Proxy War
1977
as Kanai Hachiro
Kabamaru the Ninja Boy
1983
as Iga no Saizo
Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye
1977
as Drunkard
Bodyguard Kiba 2
1973
as Naoto Kiba
A Kamikaze Cop
1970
as Hayata Shiro
The Escape
1962
Wolf Guy
1975
as Akira Inugami
Terror Beneath the Sea
1966
as Ken Abe
Sure Death 4
1987
as Bunshichi
Ninja Wars
1982
as Shinzaemon Yagyu
Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
1969
as Sho Onuma
The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf
1979
as Mitsuhiko Sakurai
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4 - The Fire Chapter
2005
as Yagyu Jubei
The Killing Machine
1975
as Doshin So
Doberman Cop
1977
as Joji Kano
The Okinawa War of Ten Years
1978
The Street Fighter's Last Revenge
1974
as Takuma Tsurguri
Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences
1972
as Toru Ibuki
Return of the Street Fighter
1974
as Takuma Tsurugi
Dragon Princess
1976
as Kazuma Higaki
Truckster of Guts
1977
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part I - Encounter
2023
as Jou
The Last True Yakuza
1985
as Ryozo Kano
The Triple Cross
1992
as Chiba
Human Torpedoes
1968
Sushi Girl: A Documentary
2013
as Self
The Great Okinawa Yakuza War
1976
as Seigou Kunigami
Fighting Fist
1992
as Supt. Yamada
Tale of Japanese Burglars
1965
as Lawyer Ohki
Explosive City
2004
as Otosan
Sensei
1989
as Makoto Ushiyama
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3 - The Wind Chapter
2004
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part II - Judgement
2024
as Jou
Yakuza: Domination of the Realm 4
2017
Iemitsu, Hikoza and Isshin Tasuke - A National Crisis: Edo Castle in Danger
1989
as Yagyu Jubei
Karate Bear Fighter
1975
as Mas Oyama
13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats
1975
as Kenichi Hyuga
Legend of the Flying Swordsman
2000
as Dagger
Immortal Combat
1994
as Jiro 'J.J.' Jintani
Shashin Koshien Summer in 0.5 Seconds
2017
The Legend of Space Sheriff Gavan
2012
as Space Sheriff Voicer
Karate Bullfighter
1975
as Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
Amazing Masters of Martial Arts
1985
as Self
Street Fighting Man: An Interview with Sonny Chiba
2019
as Self
The Last Kamikaze
1970
as Captain Mishima
Game of Chance
1966
as Bungo Endo
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss
1975
as Bartender
Space Sheriff Shaider: The Movie
1984
as Shaider (Voice)
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1990
Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
1966
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
2001
Invasion of the Neptune Men
1961
as Tachibana - Scientist / Space Chief
Hakata Movie: Chinchiromai
2000
The Rugby Star
1976
Legend of Seven Monks
2006
Jail Breakers
1976
as Wataru Kangi
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder
1972
as Gosuke Himuro
Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley
1961
as Goro Saionji
Takeda Shingen
1991
as Takeda Nobutora
The Golden Bat
1966
as Dr. Yamatone
Game of Chance 2
1967
Masaaki Hatsumi: Living Ninja Legend
2016
The Machine Gun Dragon
1976
Police Department Part 15: Alibi
1961
Don's Road 7
2013
Kanto Gangster Federation: Chapter 2
2015
New Shadow Warriors VI: The Final Chapter
2005
as Hattori Hanzo I
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
as Katsutoshi Otomo
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
Yakuza: Domination of the Realm 2
2017
The King
1962
Saito Dosan: Rage of Power
1991
as Mitsutsugu Akechi
Mid-August Commotion
1962
as Dr Omori
修羅の花道
2012
The Navy
1963
as Takao
Kamikaze, the Adventurer
1981
as Daisuke Kamikaze
About Sonny Chiba
Sonny Chiba (born January 23, 1939 - August 19, 2021), also known as Shin'ichi Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earn… With 237 credits spanning from 1959 to 2024, Sonny Chiba has appeared in 210 films and 27 TV shows.
Fans searching for Sonny Chiba movies, Sonny Chiba filmography, or the latest projects starring Sonny Chiba can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Sonny Chiba Movies
- Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011) — as Hattori Hanzo
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) — as Hattori Hanzo
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) — as Hattori Hanzo
- The Storm Riders (1998) — as Lord Conqueror
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) — as Uncle Kamata
Where to Watch Sonny Chiba Films
Most Sonny Chiba movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Sonny Chiba, check our movies catalogue and browse page.