Miiko Taka

Taka as Hana-ogi with Marlon Brando
Born July 24, 1932 Seattle, Washington
Spouse(s) Dale Ishimoto (1944-1958)

Miiko Taka (高美以子 Taka Miiko?) is a Nisei[1] Japanese American actress best known for co-starring with Marlon Brando as Hana-ogi in the 1957 movie Sayonara.

Contents

'Sayonara'

Taka was born in Seattle, but raised in Los Angeles, California.[2] She graduated from Los Angeles High School. After director Joshua Logan's first choice for the role of Hana-ogi, Audrey Hepburn, turned him down, he looked to cast an unknown actress[1]. Taka, who at the time was working as a clerk at a travel agency in Los Angeles, was discovered by a talent scout at a local Nisei festival.[2] Although she had no previous acting experience[1], Variety gave her a positve review in their review of the film.[3] Warner Bros. gave her a term contract as a result of her performance in Sayonara. [4]

Post-'Sayonara' Career

After Sayonara, she steadily worked in various movies starring James Garner, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, and Toshiro Mifune (whom she also worked alongside of in the 1980 television miniseries, Shõgun). She also served as a translator for Mifune as well as Akira Kurosawa when they visited Hollywood [5] [6]

Personal Life

Taka married Dale Ishimoto in Baltimore in 1944[7], and they had one son and one daughter. They divorced in 1958.[8]

She married Los Angeles TV news director Lennie Blondheim in 1963.[9]

Motion Pictures

Year Film Role Other notes
1957 Sayonara Hana-ogi Screen debut, co-star with Marlon Brando
1960 Hell to Eternity Ester Stars Jeffrey Hunter
1961 Cry for Happy Chiyoko Reunites with Sayonara co-star Miyoshi Umeki
1961 Operation Bottleneck Ari Shares top billing with Ron Foster and Norman Alden
1963 A Global Affair Fumiko Stars Bob Hope
1965 The Art of Love Chou Chou Reunites with Sayonara co-star James Garner
1966 Walk Don't Run Aiko Kurawa Final film of Cary Grant's career
1968 The Power Mrs. Van Zandt
1973 Lost Horizon Nurse
1975 Paper Tiger Madame Kagoyama first movie working with Toshiro Mifune
1978 The Big Fix Saleswoman Stars Richard Dreyfuss
1982 The Challenge Yoshida's wife Last film to date

[10] [11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Capote, Truman (November 9, 1957). "The Duke in His Domain", The New Yorker. Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  2. ^ a b Scott, John L. (May 5, 1957). "Fortune Bolt puts Miiko in Top Film Spot", Los Angeles Times, p. E3. Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  3. ^ "Sayonara", Variety (January 1, 1957). Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  4. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (November 17, 1958). "Faulkner Story Lifted Off Shelf, Cycle Looms; Miiko Taka to Stay On", Los Angeles Times, p. B7. Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  5. ^ Beyette, Beverly (Aug 12, 1983). "Toshiro Mifune Takes Up the Samurai Role Again", Los Angeles Times, p. G1. Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  6. ^ Thomas, Kevin (November 28, 2002). "WORLD CINEMA; An edgy, epic collaboration; Director Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune made 16 films together; 13 will be screening at the Nuart", Los Angeles Times, p. E16. 
  7. ^ "Actress Miiko Taka of Movies Wins Divorce", Los Angeles Times (November 18,1958), p. B1. 
  8. ^ "Miiko Taka Gets Divorce", New York Times (November 17, 1958). Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  9. ^ Paddleford, Clementine (November 17, 1963). "Barbecue at the Table", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-07. 
  10. ^ "Miiko Taka Filmography". fandango.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  11. ^ "Miiko Taka". imdb.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miiko_Taka"


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