Portrait of Ken Watanabe

Ken Watanabe

Bio: Ken Watanabe (born October 21, 1959) is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. To English-speaking audiences he is known for playing tragic hero characters, such as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in Letters from Iwo Jima and Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in The Last Samurai, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Born: Wed, Oct 21 1959
Birthplace: Koide, Niigata, Japan
Ken Watanabe is 65 years old
External Links
IMDb logoExternal Link Icon
Sort by Popularity
Scroll to TV Credits

Movies (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date
Poster of All Lives
All Lives
Ken Watanabe was
64 in All Lives
Mon, May 06 2024
Poster of Kensuke's Kingdom
Kensuke's Kingdom
Ken Watanabe was
64 in Kensuke's Kingdom
as 'Kensuke (voice)'.
Wed, Feb 07 2024
Poster of True Love: Making The Creator
True Love: Making The Creator
Ken Watanabe was
64 in True Love: Making The Creator
as 'Self'.
Tue, Nov 14 2023
Poster of The Creator
The Creator
Ken Watanabe was
63 in The Creator
as 'Harun'.
Wed, Sep 27 2023
Poster of 劇場の灯を消すな!PARCO劇場編
劇場の灯を消すな!PARCO劇場編
Ken Watanabe was
61 in 劇場の灯を消すな!PARCO劇場編
Sat, Oct 31 2020
Poster of Fukushima 50
Fukushima 50
Ken Watanabe was
60 in Fukushima 50
as 'Masao Yoshida'.
Fri, Mar 06 2020
Poster of Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Ken Watanabe was
59 in Godzilla: King of the Monsters
as 'Dr. Ishiro Serizawa'.
Wed, May 29 2019
Poster of Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Ken Watanabe was
59 in Pokémon Detective Pikachu
as 'Lieutenant Hide Yoshida'.
Fri, May 03 2019
Poster of An Artist of the Floating World
An Artist of the Floating World
Ken Watanabe was
59 in An Artist of the Floating World
as 'Ono Masuji'.
Sat, Mar 30 2019
Poster of The King and I
The King and I
Ken Watanabe was
59 in The King and I
as 'The King of Siam'.
Thu, Nov 29 2018
Poster of Bel Canto
Bel Canto
Ken Watanabe was
58 in Bel Canto
as 'Katsumi Hosokawa'.
Thu, Sep 13 2018
Poster of Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
Ken Watanabe was
58 in Isle of Dogs
as 'Head Surgeon (voice)'.
Fri, Mar 23 2018
Poster of 7 Guardians of the Tomb
7 Guardians of the Tomb
Ken Watanabe was
58 in 7 Guardians of the Tomb
as 'Father'.
Fri, Jan 19 2018
Poster of Transformers: The Last Knight
Transformers: The Last Knight
Ken Watanabe was
57 in Transformers: The Last Knight
as 'Drift (voice)'.
Fri, Jun 16 2017
Poster of Dirty, Clean, & Inbetween
Dirty, Clean, & Inbetween
Ken Watanabe was
57 in Dirty, Clean, & Inbetween
as 'Restaurant Patron'.
Sat, Jan 28 2017
Poster of The Memories of Happiness
The Memories of Happiness
Ken Watanabe was
57 in The Memories of Happiness
as 'Taro Miura'.
Sun, Jan 08 2017
Poster of Rage
Rage
Ken Watanabe was
56 in Rage
as 'Yohei Maki'.
Sat, Sep 17 2016
Poster of The Sea of Trees
The Sea of Trees
Ken Watanabe was
56 in The Sea of Trees
as 'Takumi Nakamura'.
Wed, Apr 27 2016
Poster of Evolution Within Extinction
Evolution Within Extinction
Ken Watanabe was
54 in Evolution Within Extinction
as 'Self'.
Tue, Sep 30 2014
Poster of Snow Jack
Snow Jack
Ken Watanabe was
54 in Snow Jack
as 'Reiji Kurata'.
Sat, Aug 02 2014
Poster of Transformers: Age of Extinction
Transformers: Age of Extinction
Ken Watanabe was
54 in Transformers: Age of Extinction
as 'Drift (voice)'.
Wed, Jun 25 2014
Poster of Godzilla
Godzilla
Ken Watanabe was
54 in Godzilla
as 'Dr. Ishiro Serizawa'.
Wed, May 14 2014
Poster of Unforgiven
Unforgiven
Ken Watanabe was
53 in Unforgiven
as 'Jubee Kamata'.
Fri, Sep 13 2013
Poster of Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home
Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home
Ken Watanabe was
52 in Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home
as 'Junichiro Kawaguchi'.
Sat, Feb 11 2012
Poster of Ai inochi - Shinjuku Kabukicho Kakekomi Dera -
Ai inochi - Shinjuku Kabukicho Kakekomi Dera -
Ken Watanabe was
51 in Ai inochi - Shinjuku Kabukicho Kakekomi Dera -
Sat, Jan 01 2011
Poster of A School Behind Bars
A School Behind Bars
Ken Watanabe was
50 in A School Behind Bars
Mon, Oct 11 2010
Poster of Inception
Inception
Ken Watanabe was
50 in Inception
as 'Saito'.
Thu, Jul 15 2010
Poster of Shanghai
Shanghai
Ken Watanabe was
50 in Shanghai
as 'Tanaka'.
Thu, Jun 10 2010
Poster of The Unbroken
The Unbroken
Ken Watanabe was
50 in The Unbroken
as 'Hajime Onchi'.
Fri, Oct 23 2009
Poster of Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Ken Watanabe was
50 in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
as 'Mr. Tall'.
Fri, Oct 23 2009
Poster of Earth
Earth
Ken Watanabe was
47 in Earth
as 'Narrator (voice)'.
Wed, Oct 10 2007
Poster of Letters from Iwo Jima
Letters from Iwo Jima
Ken Watanabe was
47 in Letters from Iwo Jima
as 'General Tadamichi Kuribayashi'.
Sat, Dec 09 2006
Poster of Memories of Tomorrow
Memories of Tomorrow
Ken Watanabe was
46 in Memories of Tomorrow
as 'Masayuki Saeki'.
Sat, May 13 2006
Poster of Memoirs of a Geisha
Memoirs of a Geisha
Ken Watanabe was
46 in Memoirs of a Geisha
as 'Chairman'.
Tue, Dec 06 2005
Poster of Batman Begins
Batman Begins
Ken Watanabe was
45 in Batman Begins
as 'Ra's al Ghul'.
Fri, Jun 10 2005
Poster of Year One in the North
Year One in the North
Ken Watanabe was
45 in Year One in the North
as 'Komatsubara Hideaki'.
Fri, Jan 14 2005
Poster of The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai
Ken Watanabe was
44 in The Last Samurai
as 'Moritsugu Katsumoto'.
Fri, Dec 05 2003
Poster of Another Battle/Conspiracy
Another Battle/Conspiracy
Ken Watanabe was
43 in Another Battle/Conspiracy
as 'Fujimaki Hiroaki'.
Sat, Feb 15 2003
Poster of T.R.Y.
T.R.Y.
Ken Watanabe was
43 in T.R.Y.
as 'Masanobu Azuma'.
Sat, Jan 11 2003
Poster of Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
Ken Watanabe was
42 in Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
as 'Okubo'.
Sun, Jun 16 2002
Poster of Drowning Fish
Drowning Fish
Ken Watanabe was
41 in Drowning Fish
as 'Miyota'.
Sat, Feb 03 2001
Poster of The Whispered City
The Whispered City
Ken Watanabe was
40 in The Whispered City
as 'Ishida'.
Fri, Jul 07 2000
Poster of Space Travelers
Space Travelers
Ken Watanabe was
40 in Space Travelers
as 'Sakamaki ("Crusher")'.
Sat, Apr 08 2000
Poster of Bonds
Bonds
Ken Watanabe was
38 in Bonds
as 'Detective Sako Akio'.
Sat, Jun 06 1998
Poster of Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald
Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald
Ken Watanabe was
38 in Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald
as 'Raita Onuki'.
Sat, Nov 08 1997
Poster of Baian the Assassin: Showdown
Baian the Assassin: Showdown
Ken Watanabe was
33 in Baian the Assassin: Showdown
as 'Dr. Baian'.
Wed, Oct 06 1993
Poster of Hanzo, the Razor
Hanzo, the Razor
Ken Watanabe was
33 in Hanzo, the Razor
Fri, Jan 01 1993
Poster of Chronicle of the Town Magistrate
Chronicle of the Town Magistrate
Ken Watanabe was
33 in Chronicle of the Town Magistrate
as 'Mochizuki Koheita'.
Wed, Dec 23 1992
Poster of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
Ken Watanabe was
32 in Oda Nobunaga
Sun, Jan 05 1992
Poster of Ganryujima: Kojiro and Musashi
Ganryujima: Kojiro and Musashi
Ken Watanabe was
32 in Ganryujima: Kojiro and Musashi
as 'Kojirō'.
Wed, Jan 01 1992
Poster of A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era
A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era
Ken Watanabe was
31 in A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era
as 'Ryoma Sakamoto'.
Sat, Jul 06 1991
Poster of Baian the Assassin
Baian the Assassin
Ken Watanabe was
31 in Baian the Assassin
as 'Dr. Baian'.
Wed, Dec 26 1990
Poster of Commando Invasion
Commando Invasion
Ken Watanabe was
27 in Commando Invasion
Thu, Jan 01 1987
Poster of The Sea and Poison
The Sea and Poison
Ken Watanabe was
26 in The Sea and Poison
as 'Toda'.
Fri, Oct 17 1986
Poster of The Making of "Tampopo"
The Making of "Tampopo"
Ken Watanabe was
26 in The Making of "Tampopo"
as 'Self'.
Wed, Jan 01 1986
Poster of Tampopo
Tampopo
Ken Watanabe was
26 in Tampopo
as 'Gun'.
Sat, Nov 23 1985
Poster of Kekkon Annai Mystery
Kekkon Annai Mystery
Ken Watanabe was
25 in Kekkon Annai Mystery
Sat, Jun 15 1985
Poster of MacArthur's Children
MacArthur's Children
Ken Watanabe was
24 in MacArthur's Children
as 'Tetsuo Nakai'.
Sat, Jun 23 1984
Poster of Bruce's Fists Of Vengeance
Bruce's Fists Of Vengeance
Ken Watanabe was
20 in Bruce's Fists Of Vengeance
as 'Samurai Master'.
Fri, Aug 22 1980
Poster of 第三の時効
第三の時効
Ken Watanabe will be
65+ in 第三の時効
Unreleased

TV Shows (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date
Ages in TV shows are based off the first air date and may not be accurate. View individual episode details for accurate ages
Poster of Tokyo Vice
Tokyo Vice
Ken Watanabe was
62+ in Tokyo Vice
as 'Hiroto Katagiri'.
First Air Date
Thu, Apr 07 2022
Poster of Toubousha
Toubousha
Ken Watanabe was
61+ in Toubousha
First Air Date
Sat, Dec 05 2020
Poster of Segodon
Segodon
Ken Watanabe was
58+ in Segodon
as 'Shimazu Nariakira'.
First Air Date
Sun, Jan 07 2018
Poster of NHK WORLD PRIME
NHK WORLD PRIME
Ken Watanabe was
57+ in NHK WORLD PRIME
as 'Self - Presenter'.
First Air Date
Sat, Oct 07 2017
Poster of 五年目のひとり
五年目のひとり
Ken Watanabe was
57+ in 五年目のひとり
as '키자키 슈지'.
First Air Date
Sat, Nov 19 2016
Poster of Back of Father
Back of Father
Ken Watanabe was
54+ in Back of Father
as 'Takamura Kouji'.
First Air Date
Sun, Jul 13 2014
Poster of Gyoretsuno dekiru sodanjo
Gyoretsuno dekiru sodanjo
Ken Watanabe was
51+ in Gyoretsuno dekiru sodanjo
as 'Regular'.
First Air Date
Sun, Oct 16 2011
Poster of Vessel of Sand
Vessel of Sand
Ken Watanabe was
44+ in Vessel of Sand
as 'Shuichiro Imanishi'.
First Air Date
Sun, Jan 18 2004
Poster of 川、いつか海へ 6つの愛の物語
川、いつか海へ 6つの愛の物語
Ken Watanabe was
44+ in 川、いつか海へ 6つの愛の物語
First Air Date
Sun, Dec 21 2003
Poster of 藤田宜永サスペンス「異端の夏」
藤田宜永サスペンス「異端の夏」
Ken Watanabe was
43+ in 藤田宜永サスペンス「異端の夏」
First Air Date
Sun, Jan 19 2003
Poster of Mibu Gishiden: Shinsengumi de Ichiban Tsuyokatta Otoko
Mibu Gishiden: Shinsengumi de Ichiban Tsuyokatta Otoko
Ken Watanabe was
43+ in Mibu Gishiden: Shinsengumi de Ichiban Tsuyokatta Otoko
First Air Date
Sat, Dec 28 2002
Poster of 横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS)
横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS)
Ken Watanabe was
42+ in 横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS)
First Air Date
Mon, Jul 08 2002
Poster of 強行犯捜査第七係
強行犯捜査第七係
Ken Watanabe was
42+ in 強行犯捜査第七係
First Air Date
Sat, Jun 29 2002
Poster of Hojo Tokimune
Hojo Tokimune
Ken Watanabe was
41+ in Hojo Tokimune
as 'Hojo Tokiyori'.
First Air Date
Sun, Jan 07 2001
Poster of Ikebukuro West Gate Park
Ikebukuro West Gate Park
Ken Watanabe was
40+ in Ikebukuro West Gate Park
as 'Yokoyama'.
First Air Date
Fri, Apr 14 2000
Poster of Shimei Tehai
Shimei Tehai
Ken Watanabe was
39+ in Shimei Tehai
First Air Date
Tue, Nov 24 1998
Poster of Gokenin Zankuro
Gokenin Zankuro
Ken Watanabe was
35+ in Gokenin Zankuro
as 'Zankuro Matsudaira'.
First Air Date
Mon, Jan 09 1995
Poster of The Fire Still Burns
The Fire Still Burns
Ken Watanabe was
33+ in The Fire Still Burns
as 'Fujiwara Tsunekiyo'.
First Air Date
Fri, Jun 04 1993
Poster of Kagi-shi
Kagi-shi
Ken Watanabe was
33+ in Kagi-shi
First Air Date
Fri, Mar 12 1993
Poster of Waga Machi
Waga Machi
Ken Watanabe was
32+ in Waga Machi
First Air Date
Tue, Oct 13 1992
Poster of Izakaya Chōji
Izakaya Chōji
Ken Watanabe was
32+ in Izakaya Chōji
First Air Date
Fri, Jul 10 1992
Poster of Baian the Assassin
Baian the Assassin
Ken Watanabe was
31+ in Baian the Assassin
as 'Fujieda Baian'.
First Air Date
Wed, Oct 09 1991
Poster of Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
Ken Watanabe was
30+ in Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
First Air Date
Thu, Oct 04 1990
Poster of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
Ken Watanabe was
29+ in Oda Nobunaga
First Air Date
Sun, Jan 01 1989
Poster of Masamune Shogun
Masamune Shogun
Ken Watanabe was
27+ in Masamune Shogun
as '伊達政宗'.
First Air Date
Sun, Jan 04 1987
Poster of Hanekonma
Hanekonma
Ken Watanabe was
26+ in Hanekonma
as 'Genzo Onodera'.
First Air Date
Mon, Apr 07 1986