Nakajima Haruo

Nakajima, born in Yamagata Prefecture, began his career as a stuntman in samurai films, notably appearing in Kurosawa Akira’s Seven Samurai (1954) and The Hidden Fortress (1958). His willingness to perform dangerous stunts, such as jumping from a burning aircraft in Eagle of the Pacific (1953), caught the attention of special effects director Tsuburaya Eiji.

Nakajima is best known for pioneering the art of “suitmation” as the original suit actor for Godzilla. He played the King of the Monsters in 12 films, starting with the original Godzilla (1954) and concluding with Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972). To prepare for the role, Nakajima studied the movement of elephants and bears at the Ueno Zoo. He also portrayed other iconic kaijû, including Rodan, Mothra (larva), Mogera, Varan, Baragon, Gaira, and King Kong.

After the death of Tsuburaya in 1970 and the decline of the studio system, Nakajima retired from suit acting in 1972. He remained at Toho, managing the studio’s bowling alley and later its mahjong parlor. In his later years, he became a beloved figure on the convention circuit, known to fans as “Mr. Godzilla.” He published his autobiography, Monster Life, in 2010. Nakajima died of pneumonia in 2017.