Robert Dunham

Robert Dunham

Japanese Name ロバート・ダンハム
Aliases Dan Yuma (ダン・ユマ)
Born July 6, 1931
Portland, Maine, United States
Died August 6, 2001 (70)
Sarasota, Florida, United States

Dunham served with the United States Marines during the Korean War, after which he was deployed to Yokohama, where he lived for 20 years. His profile as a Westerner who could speak fluent Japanese made him a valuable asset for film studios who required believable Western talent that could interact with Japanese co-stars.

His role as diamond insurance agent Mark Jackson in Dogora, the Space Monster (1964) was a particularly popular one, and there was even talk of a solo film featuring the Mark Jackson character. He was pitched for the role of the American scientist in Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), but lost to Nick Adams. He is best remembered as the emperor of the undersea kingdom of Seatopia in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), which was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Dunham retired back to the United States in the 70s, living in California, Massachusetts, and Florida. Dunham was married three times and had four children; his daughter Emiko Frost spoke at length about Dunham’s life and career in an interview with Vantage Point Interviews. He continued working as a producer until his death in 2001.

Japanese Name ロバート・ダンハム
Aliases Dan Yuma (ダン・ユマ)
Born July 6, 1931
Portland, Maine, United States
Died August 6, 2001 (70)
Sarasota, Florida, United States

Dunham served with the United States Marines during the Korean War, after which he was deployed to Yokohama, where he lived for 20 years. His profile as a Westerner who could speak fluent Japanese made him a valuable asset for film studios who required believable Western talent that could interact with Japanese co-stars.

His role as diamond insurance agent Mark Jackson in Dogora, the Space Monster (1964) was a particularly popular one, and there was even talk of a solo film featuring the Mark Jackson character. He was pitched for the role of the American scientist in Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), but lost to Nick Adams. He is best remembered as the emperor of the undersea kingdom of Seatopia in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), which was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Dunham retired back to the United States in the 70s, living in California, Massachusetts, and Florida. Dunham was married three times and had four children; his daughter Emiko Frost spoke at length about Dunham’s life and career in an interview with Vantage Point Interviews. He continued working as a producer until his death in 2001.