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Personal Info

Known For

Production

Known Credits

238

Gender

Male

Birthday

1910-04-26

Day of Death

1997-04-02 (87 years old)

Place of Birth

Osaka, Honshu, Japan

Also Known As

Tanaka Tomoyuki

Yuko Tanaka

Tanaka Yūkō

Hachiro Jinguji

Tomoyuka Tanaka

Tomoyuki Tanaka

Biography

Born in Osaka Prefecture, Tomoyuki Tanaka was head man at Toho Studios and one of its most prolific producers. Throughout his career he would produce the films of notable filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa, Senkichi Taniguchi, Kon Ichikawa, and Mikio Naruse. However, he is probably best remembered as the creator of Godzilla. After graduating from the Economic Department at Kansai University, Tanaka joined Toho in 1940. In 1954 Tanaka would spearhead the original Godzilla film with director Ishiro Honda. After Godzilla's monumental success, Tanaka was instructed to "make another one". Tanaka would produce every Toho monster film up until Godzilla vs Destoroyah. Tanaka was also a heavy supporter of Toshiro Mifune, producing his films with Kurosawa as well as Mifune's own production company and sole directorial effort in Legacy of the 500,000. Tanaka would champion Godzilla's return in 1984 and be heavily involved in the series until his death in 1997. In his near 60 year career Tanaka would go on to produce over 200 films.

Known For

Acting

Submersion of Japan

1973

Submersion of Japan

as

Government official (uncredited)

Production

Godzilla

1954

Godzilla

as

Red Beard

1965

Red Beard

as

Yojimbo

1961

Yojimbo

as

Kagemusha

1980

Kagemusha

as

Atragon

1963

Atragon

as

Kill!

1968

Kill!

as

Rodan

1956

Rodan

as

Mothra

1961

Mothra

as

Godzilla

1977

Godzilla

as

Gorath

1962

Gorath

as

Oh, Bomb!

1964

Oh, Bomb!

as

Varan

1958

Varan

as

Whirlwind

1964

Whirlwind

as

Gunhed

1989

Gunhed

as

Ohan

1984

Ohan

as

Sanjuro

1962

Sanjuro

as

House

1977

House

as

Lovetide

1955

Lovetide

as

Foghorn

1952

Foghorn

as

The Surf

1954

The Surf

as

Actress

1987

Actress

as

Zero

1984

Zero

as

The H-Man

1958

The H-Man

as

Scoundrel

1956

Scoundrel

as

Dogora

1964

Dogora

as

ESPY

1974

ESPY

as

Matango

1963

Matango

as

Crew

Godzilla

1998

Godzilla

as

Directing