Mako

Biography

Mako was born in Kobe, Japan, the son of noted children's book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. His parents moved to the United States when he was a small child. He joined them there after World War II, in 1949, joining the military in the 1950s. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1956. When Mako first joined his parents in the USA, he studied architecture. During his military service, he discovered his theatrical talent, and trained at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Mako was married to actress Shizuko Hoshi with whom he had two daughters (both are actresses) and three grandchildren.

Known For

Pearl Harbor

as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto

Avatar: The Last Airbender

as Iroh (voice)

Memoirs of a Geisha

as Sakamoto

Seven Years in Tibet

as Kungo Tsarong

Conan the Barbarian

as The Wizard / Narrator

Conan the Destroyer

as Akiro 'The Wizard'

RoboCop 3

as Kanemitsu

TMNT

as Splinter (voice)

Monk

as Master Zi

The A-Team

as Pastry Chef