Akihiko Hirata

Akihiko Hirata Born December 16, 1927 Seoul, Korea Died July 25, 1984 Tokyo, Japan Notable role(s) Daisuke Serizawa, Kyuichiro Kashiwagi, Ryoichi Shiraishi, Tominaga, Fujimura, Kobayashi, Director General of National Nucleus Center, Endo, Shosuke Shigesawa, Mu agent, Okita, Ryui, Fujisaki, Sugata, Mr. K, Hideto Miyajima, botanist, Shinzo Mafune, Oishi, Ryutaro Inoue First work The Last Embrace (1953) Notable work Godzilla (1954)

Akihiko Hirata (平田 昭彦,   Hirata Akihiko) was a Japanese actor who appeared in numerous Toho films and other television productions from the 1950's to 1980's.

One of the most prolific performers in the kaiju genre during the Showa era, his most famous role was Daisuke Serizawa, creator of the Oxygen Destroyer, in the original Godzilla. Hirata's final role in the Godzilla series came in 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla. Hirata made a guest appearance at the 1983 Godzilla Anniversary Festival in-character as Dr. Serizawa, and was slated to return in the 1984 film The Return of Godzilla as the character Dr. Hayashida.^{[citation needed]} Unfortunately, Hirata became seriously ill prior to the start of filming, and could not act in the film. Yosuke Natsuki replaced Hirata in the role, while Hirata eventually passed away prior to the film's release on July 25, 1984. Despite his passing, Hirata has subsequently made stock footage appearances as Dr. Serizawa in the films Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.

Selected filmography

• Godzilla (1954) as Dr. Daisuke Serizawa
• Rodan (1956) as Dr. Kyuichiro Kashiwagi
• The Mysterians (1957) as Ryoichi Shiraishi
• H-Man (1958) as Inspector Tominaga
• Varan (1958) as Dr. Fujimura, explosives expert
• The Secret of the Telegian (1960) as Detective Kobayashi
• Mothra (1961) as Director General of National Nucleus Center
• Gorath (1962) as Endo, captain of spaceship JX-2 Otori
• King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) as Dr. Shosuke Shigesawa
• Atragon (1963) as Mu agent
• Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) as Police Chief Okita
• Ultra Q (TV 1966) as Chief Hanazawa [1 episode]
• Ultraman (TV 1966-1967) as Professor Iwamoto [2 episodes]
• Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966) as Captain Ryui
• Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (1967) as Professor Iwamoto [stock footage from Ultraman]
• Ultraseven (TV 1967-1968) as Staff Officer Yanagawa [unknown number of episodes]
• Son of Godzilla (1967) as Dr. Fujisaki
• Latitude Zero (1968) as Dr. Sugata
• Warrior of Love Rainbowman (TV 1972-1973) as Mr. K
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) as Hideto Miyajima
• Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974) as Botanist
• Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) as Dr. Shinzo Mafune
• Flying Saucer War Bankid (TV 1976-1977) as Commander Guzare
• The War in Space (1978) as Oishi
• Ultraman: Great Monster Battle (1979) as Professor Iwamoto [stock footage from Ultraman]
• What a Fantastic Night! (TV 1983) as Dr. Yamane [segment "Modzilla Raids Again"]
• Bye-Bye Jupiter (1984) as Dr. Ryutaro Inoue
• Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) as Daisuke Serizawa [stock footage from Godzilla]
• Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) as Daisuke Serizawa [stock footage from Godzilla]

Gallery

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  Still of Akihiko Hirata in Godzilla

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  Akihiko Hirata in Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

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  Akihiko Hirata in Warrior of Love Rainbowman

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  Akihiko Hirata in Terror of Mechagodzilla

Videos

Akihiko Hirata plays Dr. Yamane in a 1983 segment from the TV show What a Fantastic Night!, "Modzilla Raids Again"

Trivia

• Hirata played a scientist in both his first and last Godzilla films.

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