Ken Utsui

宇津井健　/　うついけん

Veteran Japanese actor of the Showa era

October 24, 1931 – March 14, 2014　・　Tokyo, Japan

From Tokyo
Actor

My Take

I have a real soft spot for Ken Utsui. To me he's the quiet definition of mid-century Japanese class. A Tokyo boy and Waseda man, but you'd never catch a whiff of snobbery off him. He came up in the 1950s doing physical hero roles, then aged into something even better. The kind of actor whose face just radiates warmth and decency the older he gets, so that by his later years he could simply sit on screen and make you wish he were your own gentle dad. There's a steely Scorpio core under that easy smile, but he never needed to show off. No scandalous war stories here, just decades of steady, beloved, first-rate work, which to me is the best medal of all. He passed in 2014, and that calm, kind presence still lingers. A lovely craftsman.

Overview

Ken Utsui (October 24, 1931 – March 14, 2014) was a Japanese actor born in Tokyo. A graduate of Waseda University, he built a career spanning decades in Japanese film and television, becoming a well-known presence on screen from the postwar era through the 2000s. He was recognized with a Golden Arrow Award during his career.

1. Profile

Name (English): Ken Utsui
Name (Japanese): 宇津井健
Reading: うついけん
Born: October 24, 1931 – March 14, 2014
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac: Scorpio / Sheep (未)
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Blood type: Private
Height: Private
Agency: Private
Active years: Unknown
Occupation: Actor

2. Background

University: Waseda University
Debut: Unknown

Awards & achievements

Golden Arrow Award (year unknown)

3. Relationships

Spouse: Private
Children: Private
Parents: Private
Siblings: Private

4. Personality

Motto

Private

6. Links

Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%87%E6%B4%A5%E4%BA%95%E5%81%A5