Yuji Okumoto

Yuji Don Okumoto (雄二・ドン・奥本, Yūji Don Okumoto, born April 20, 1959) is an American actor, martial artist, filmmaker and Eagle Scout best known for his intimidating movie roles, primarily as a villain, such as Chozen Toguchi in The Karate Kid Part II and Cobra Kai. His other films include Aloha Summer, Nemesis, Pearl Harbor, Contact and The Truman Show, as well as guest roles on television series such as T.J. Hooker, Knots Landing, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Bones.

Yuji Okumoto
Born (1959-04-20) April 20, 1959
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor, martial artist
Years active1985-present
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Spouse(s)Angela (Present)

Early life

Yuji Okumoto, a third generation Japanese American (Sansei), was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.[1] He graduated from Hollywood High School and Cal State Fullerton (where he studied acting).[1]

Career

His performance in the play Indians led to being signed by an agent, and eventually a role on The Young and the Restless. His first roles were in The Check is in the Mail, Real Genius , and Better Off Dead.[1] Perhaps his most well-known role is as Daniel's rival, Chozen Toguchi in the 1986 film, The Karate Kid Part II.[1] In 2005, he was Yukio Nakajo in Lane Nishikawa's film Only the Brave about the Japanese American segregated fighting unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of World War II. This film also included two other Karate Kid stars, Tamlyn Tomita and Pat Morita.[1] Other credits include his role as Shu Kai Kim, in the 1989 film True Believer, Pete Kapahala in the 1999 Disney Channel original movie Johnny Tsunami, Kaigun-Daii in Pearl Harbor, and Bruce Takedo in the television series, Bones.[1]

Okumoto reprised his role as Chozen Toguchi in Season 3 of Cobra Kai, which was released on January 1, 2021, on Netflix.[2][3][4][5][6]

Personal life

Okumoto lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Angie and their children.[7] They own and run a Hawaiian-themed restaurant, Kona Kitchen/Yuji Lounge.[7][3][4][8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Real GeniusFentonFilm
1985Better Off DeadYee Sook ReeFilm
1985Crime KillerVietnam SoldierFilm
1986The Check Is in the Mail...BellboyFilm
1986The Karate Kid Part IIChozen ToguchiFilm
1988Aloha SummerKenzo KonishiFilm
1989True BelieverShu Kai KimFilm
19913x3 EyesChou / Transvestite #2Video (voice: English version) (as Yujii Okumoto)
1992NemesisYoshiro HanFilm
1993Silent CriesMickeyFilm, Uncredited
1993Robot WarsChou-SingFilm
1993Brainsmasher... A Love StoryWuVideo
1993American YakuzaKazuoFilm
1994Bloodfist V: Human TargetTommyFilm
1994Blue TigerLieutenant SakagamiFilm
1994Red Sun RisingYujiFilm
1995Hard JusticeJimmy WongVideo
19953x3 Eyes: Legend of the Divine DemonNaparvaVideo (voice: English version) (as Yujii Okumoto)
1997BlastFBI AgentFilm
1997Mean GunsHossFilm
1997ContactElectricalFilm
1997The GameNikko Hotel ManagerFilm
1998The Truman ShowJapanese Family ManFilm
1998SorcerersSecretaryFilm
2000Fortress 2: Re-EntrySatoFilm
2000I'll Remember AprilMatsuo YommaFilm
2001Pearl HarborJapanese Shy BomberFilm
2001TickerEmbassy ConsulFilm
2005The Crow: Wicked PrayerPestilenceFilm
2006Big Momma's House 2ParsonsFilm
2006Only the BraveSgt. Yukio 'Yuk' NakajoFilm
2006End GameDoctor LeeFilm
2007Cookies for SaleGrumpy ManShort
2008TouchKenShort
2009Black CoffeeDavidShort
2009Anatomy of a FlyPoliticianShort
2010InceptionSaito's AttendantFilm
2014Awesome Asian Bad GuysYuji (2013)
2015Beta TestThe SurgeonFilm
2017Unspoken: Diary of an Assassin
2018DrivenJudge Takasugi
2018Ultra LowYujiFilm

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986T. J. HookerHowie KalanumaEpisode: "Blood Sport"
1987Simon & SimonMasakiEpisode: "Desperately Seeking Dacody"
1988HunterJimmy2 episodes
1990Murder in Paradisen/aTV movie
1990Only One SurvivedPeter FujkoTV movie
1990Midnight CallerLee MinhEpisode: "Home to Roost"
1991American PlayhouseTeruo KurodaEpisode: "Hot Summer Winds"
1991-1993Knots LandingArt Nam6 Episodes
1994Menendez: A Killing in Beverly HillsLester KuriyamaTV movie
1995Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanChen ChowEpisode: "Chi of Steel"
1995Vanishing SonNguyenEpisode: "Holy Ghosts"
1995Murder, She WroteKim HuanEpisode: "Murder a la Mode"
1996Kindred: The EmbracedLieutenant Kwan2 episodes
1996SupermanSecurity GuardVoice, Episode: "A Little Piece of Home"
1996Walker, Texas RangerChangEpisode: "Higher Power"
1997PlayersMr. HayashiEpisode: "Rashocon"
1998The SentinelLoEpisode: "Love Kills"
1998JAGJiro Kitamura(1995 TV series) Episode: "Innocence"
1999Just Shoot Me!Kevin TanakaUncredited, Episode: "Miss Pretty"
1999Johnny TsunamiPeteTV movie
2000Martial LawMr. StrincEpisode: "Scorpio Rising"
2000Max Steeln/aVoice, Episode: "Seraphim"
2000Guilty as ChargedDavisTV movie
2001The DistrictOfficerEpisode: "A Southern Town"
2001A Kitty Bobo ShowGraffitiVoice, TV movie
2001V.I.P.Morton ZhouEpisode: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Val"
2003PartnersOne EyeTV movie
2007The UnitMr. MichaelEpisode: "The Broom Cupboard"
2007Johnny Kapahala: Back on BoardPeteTV movie
2008Heroes and VillainsNaomasa Iidocumentary, Episode: "Shogun"
2008Mask of the NinjaNakanoTV movie
2009KatanaKenjiEpisode: "Pilot" (also producer and writer)
2009BonesBruce TakedoEpisode: "The Girl in the Mask"
2018New GirlMr. YukimuraEpisode: "Godparents"
2021Cobra KaiChozen Toguchi2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Johnny Mnemonic: The Interactive Action MovieShinjiVoice, Video Game
2001Throne of DarknessSwordsmanVoice, Video Game
2003True Crime: Streets of LAAdditional VoicesVoice, Video Game

References

  1. "Meet Yuji Okumoto". konakitchen.com. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  2. Show, Gee (2021-01-19). "'Cobra Kai' actor, co-owner of Seattle restaurant on how show became Netflix hit". MyNorthwest. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  3. Baldwin, Kristen (2020-12-18). "Yuji Okumoto on Cobra Kai season 3: 'Chozen has gone through a lot of soul searching'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  4. Talbott, Chris (2021-01-04). "In Netflix's 'Cobra Kai,' Seattle restaurateur Yuji Okumoto reprises a role — and a life — he thought he'd left behind". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. Riddle, Eric (2021-01-28). "Seattle actor reprises his most famous role for Netflix hit series 'Cobra Kai'". KING-TV. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  6. Karlinski, Marla (2021-02-04). "Local actor Yuji Okumoto kicks butt in 'Cobra Kai'". Seattle Refined. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  7. "Yuji Okumoto's Kona Kitchen Is a Family Affair Actor-Restaurateur Keeps a Lot on His Plate". Japanese American Citizens League. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  8. Luthman, Jenna (2016-08-16). "Karate Kid II star owns awesome Seattle restaurant". Seattle Refined. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.