Takeshi Kitano's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Takeshi's Castle (JP) Count Takeshi Musashi (JP) (2003) Shinmen Mun…

Main Movie Roles 2007 - Chacun son cinema ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumiere s'eteint et que le film commence 2005 - Takeshis' 2004 - Chi to Hone 2004 - Izo 2000 - Brother 1999 - Gohatto 1999 - Kikujiro 1995 - Johnny Mnemonic 1993 - Sonatine 1989 - Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki 1983 - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

BIOGRAPHY:

Takeshi Kitano originally studied to become an engineer, but was thrown out of school for rebellious behavior. He learned comedy, singing and dancing from famed comedian Senzaburô Fukami. Working as a lift boy on a nightclub with such features as comic sketches and striptease dancing, Kitano saw his chance when a comedian suddenly fell ill, and he went on stage in the man's place. With a friend he formed the comic duo "The Two Beat" (his artist's name, "Beat Takeshi", comes from this period), which became very popular on Japanese television.

Kitano soon embarked on an acting career, and when the director of _Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki (1990)_ (aka "Violent Cop") fell ill, he took over that function as well. Immediately after that film was finished he set out to make a second gangster movie, 3-4 x jûgatsu (1990). Just after finishing Minnâ-yatteruka! (1995), Kitano was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that almost killed him. It changed his way of life, and he became an active painter. This change can be seen in his later films, which are characterized by his giving more importance to the aesthetics of the film, such as in Hana-bi (1997) and Kikujirô no natsu (1999).


TRIVIA:

• Often show beautiful tattoos on his characters' backs to represent yakuza status.
• Before becoming a film-maker, he was once a boxer and a tap dancer.
• Due to heavy damage suffered in a motorbike incident, he was subjected of an aestetic surgical action involving his entire face.
• Speaks excellent English, but still prefers to give interviews through interpreters.
• Directed a music video for his daughter, Shoko Kitano.
• 'William Friedkin (I)' (qv)'s _To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)_ (qv) and 'Sam Peckinpah' (qv)'s _Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)_ (qv) are two of his favorite films.
• Often appears on Japanese variety shows.
• He is an accomplished tap dancer.