Minoru Chiaki

Minoru Chiaki
千秋 実
Chiaki in a press photo from Rashomon (1950)
Born
Katsuji Sasaki

(1917-04-28)April 28, 1917
DiedNovember 1, 1999(1999-11-01) (aged 82)
OccupationActor
Years active1949–1999
SpouseFumie Sasaki
ChildrenKatsuhiko Sasaki

Minoru Chiaki (Japanese: 千秋 実, Hepburn: Chiaki Minoru; April 28, 1917 – November 1, 1999) was a Japanese actor who appeared in eleven of Akira Kurosawa's films, including Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, and The Hidden Fortress. He was also one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors.

He attended, but did not graduate from, Chuo University. Later in his career, he appeared as a secondary actor in many Toei films. In 1986, he won the Best Actor at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his performance in Gray Sunset (1985).

He died of cardiac and pulmonary failure at age 82. His son Katsuhiko Sasaki is also an actor.