Table of Contents
| Ken Watanabe Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 74 kg |
| Date of Birth | October 21, 1959 |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Ken Watanabe is a Japanese actor, voiceover artist, and producer who is known for having played a variety of roles in several on-screen projects such as Memories of Tomorrow, The Last Samurai, Sennen no Koi Story of Genji, The King and I, Rage, Shizumanu Taiyo, and Unforgiven. Moreover, his fine performances have also got him nominated for prestigious awards like the Tony Award and Olivier Award.
Born Name
Kensaku Watanabe
Nick Name
Ken
Sun Sign
Libra
Born Place
Hirokami, Niigata, Japan
Nationality
Occupation
Actor, Voiceover Artist, Producer
Family
- Father – He taught calligraphy.
- Mother – She was a school teacher.
- Sibling – Jun Watanabe (Brother)
- Others – Masahiro Higashide (Son-In-Law, Anne Watanabe’s Husband) (Actor, Model)
Manager
Ken Watanabe is represented by –
- K Dash Co., Ltd., Talent Agency, Tokyo, Japan
- William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Talent and Literary Agency, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Build
Slim
Height
6 ft 1 in or 185.5 cm
Weight
74 kg or 163 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Ken Watanabe has dated –
- Yumiko Watanabe (1983-2005) – He married Yumiko in the year 1983 and the duo was blessed with 2 children, namely, Dai Watanabe (b. August 1, 1984) and Anne Watanabe (b. April 14, 1986). However, they got divorced in September 2005.
- Kaho Minami (2005-2018)
Race / Ethnicity
Asian
Hair Color
Salt and Pepper
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- High cheekbones
- Pointed nose
- Tall stature
Brand Endorsements
He appeared in print adverts for the American Express credit card in 2006.
Ken Watanabe Facts
- In 1989, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
- In his autobiography titled Dare? – Who Am I?, Ken Watanabe revealed that he has hepatitis C.
- He co-starred alongside Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Koyuki in the 2003 American period action drama film, The Last Samurai, playing the role of Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu. This role won him the 2004 Blue Ribbon Award in the “Special Award” category while he was also nominated for awards like Academy Award, Saturn Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Broadcast Film Critics Association Award in the “Best Supporting Actor” category.
- In 2006, Ken Watanabe appeared as Masayuki Saeki in the drama film, Memories of Tomorrow, starring alongside actress Higuchi Kanako. For this role, he won a number of awards including 31st Hochi Film Award, Nikkan Sports Film Award, 30th Japan Academy Prize, and Kinema Junpo Award.
- As a voiceover artist, he made his theatrical film debut by providing vocals to the character of Drift, a Samurai-motif Autobot, tactician, and a former Decepticon assassin, in the 2014 American science fiction action film, Transformers: Age of Extinction, which starred Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci.
- It was revealed on February 9, 2016, that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
- Ken Watanabe has served as a producer for projects like Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home, Memories of Tomorrow, and Unite for Japan.
Featured Image by Thore Siebrands / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
