Takeshi Kitano

Directing · Born 1947-01-18 in Tokyo, Japan

Biography

Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's Violent Cop and garnered international acclaim for Sonatine (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until Hana-bi won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his Outrage crime trilogy…

Filmography

• Zatoichi as Zatoichi / Ichi
• Brother as Aniki Yamamoto
• Battle Royale as Kitano
• Kikujiro as Kikujiro
• Sonatine as Aniki Murakawa
• Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence as Hara
• Violent Cop as Azuma Ryosuke
• Beyond Outrage as Otomo
• Fireworks as Yoshitaka Nishi
• Battle Royale II: Requiem as Kitano

TV

• MXC
• Takeshi's Castle
• Musashi as Munisai Shinmen
• Takeshi's Castle Japan
• Golden Horse Awards as Self
• Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story as 古今亭志生
• Takeshi's Castle as Count Takeshi