Robert Ito
Ito c. 1981 in a publicity photo for Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983)
Born (1931-07-02) July 2, 1931
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Actor, voice artist
Years active1965–2008

Robert Ito (born July 2, 1931) is a Canadian actor of Japanese ancestry.[1] He is known for his television and film work, including the roles of Sam Fujiyama on the 1976–83 NBC series Quincy, M.E.[1] and Larry Mishima on the 1980s CBS primetime soap opera Falcon Crest, and a variety of voice acting for animation. He was nominated for a Gemini Award for his performance in the 1994 film Trial at Fortitude Bay.

Career

Ito was a dancer with the National Ballet of Canada[1][2] before coming to Broadway and dancing in such shows as "Flower Drum Song"(1960-1961).[3] He turned to acting in the mid-1960s, often playing Asian characters. He appeared three times (as different characters) in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu; first as a Chinese rail worker in the two-hour movie that launched the series, later as a Chinese bandit named Captain Lee in the episode "The Way of Violence Has No Mind" and another time as a Japanese Ninja in the episode entitled "The Assassin".[4]

He likewise portrayed two different Korean characters in episodes of the TV series M*A*S*H, in 1972 and 1976. Ito acted in the 1976 film Midway as Minoru Genda, the leader of the 1942 attack on Midway Island. In 1976, he was cast as forensic lab technician Sam Fujiyama, a regular supporting role he played for seven years on Quincy, M.E. As of October 2023, Ito is the last surviving cast member of the show.

His other film credits include The Terminal Man (1974), Rollerball (1975), Peeper (1976), Special Delivery (1976), Black Sunday (1977), SST: Death Flight (1977), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), Pray for Death (1985), Aloha Summer (1988) and The Vineyard (1989). Ito guest-starred on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Coming of Age" as TAC officer Lt. Chang and on Star Trek: Voyager as John Kim (Harry Kim's father).

Voice roles include such programs and films as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Animaniacs, Bonkers, Batman: The Animated Series, Jackie Chan Adventures, Fantastic Max, Superman: The Animated Series, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, My Little Pony and Friends, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Biker Mice from Mars, Quack Pack, Capitol Critters, ProStars, Justice League, Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Iron Man, The Karate Kid, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures, Rambo and the Forces of Freedom, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, Savage Dragon, TaleSpin, Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos, The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, All Grown Up!, The Mummy: The Animated Series, Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo, The New Woody Woodpecker Show, The Wild Thornberrys, Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects, and Gargoyles.

Selected filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1966 Get Smart Number 3 Episode: "The Amazing Harry Hoo"; uncredited
1968 It Takes a Thief Chief Aide Episode: "When Good Friends Get Together"
1970-1974 Mannix Dr. Yoshiro, Dr. Sato, Doctor 3 episodes
1972-1974 Kung Fu Fong, Tim Lee, Smith 3 episodes
1976 Six Million Dollar Man: The Last Kamikaze Mission Guide
1984 Magnum P.I. Ray Lum Episode: Jororo Farewell
1986 Rambo: The Force of Freedom Black Dragon / White Dragon Voice, 27 episodes
1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation Lt. Chang Episode: "Coming of Age"
1989 The Karate Kid Mr. Miyagi Voice, 13 episodes
1990 TaleSpin Wan-Lo Voice, episode: "Last Horizons"
1992-1993 Batman: The Animated Series The Ninja / Kyodai Ken Voice, 2 episodes[5]
1993 Animaniacs Matthew Kato Voice, episode: "Taming of the Screwy"[5]
1993 Highlander: The Series Johnny Leong Episode: "Revenge of the Sword"
1994 Gargoyles Dr. Ken Sato Voice, episode: "Deadly Force"[5]
1994 Highlander: The Series Hideo Koto Episode: "The Samurai"
1995-1996 Iron Man Mandarin Voice, 12 episodes[5]
1995 Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects 427 Voice, television film
1995 The X-Files Dr. Shiro Zama 2 episodes
1995 The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Charlie Smith Voice, episode: "A Ticket to Crime"[5]
1996 Quack Pack Dr. William Wu Voice, episode: "Feats of Clay"
1996 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest President Horkarno, Pradad, Controller Voice, 2 episodes
1997 Superman: The Animated Series Awards Presenter, Dr. Teng Voice, 2 episodes[5]
1999 The King of Queens Mr. Fujita Episode: "Hungry Man"
2001 The Wild Thornberrys Asian Black Bear Voice, episode: "The Anniversary"[5]
2001 Star Trek: Voyager John Kim Episode: "Author, Author"
2001 The Mummy Lin Chou Voice, episode: "The Boy Who Would Be King"
2003 Justice League Mr. Hama Voice, episode: "Comfort and Joy"[5]
2006 Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo Mayor, Bookseller Voice, television film[5]
2007 All Grown Up! Hiro Watanabe Voice, episode: "Trading Places"
2008 Avatar: The Last Airbender Sun Warrior Chief Voice, episode: "The Firebending Masters"[5]
2008 Mater's Tall Tales Ito San Voice, episode: "Tokyo Mater"

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1966 Women of the Prehistoric Planet Tang
1966 Dimension 5 Sato
1969 Some Kind of a Nut George Toyota
1973 Soylent Green Shoe Seller Uncredited
1973 The Naked Ape Samurai Warrior
1974 The Terminal Man Anesthetist
1974 Airport 1975 Passenger Uncredited
1975 Rollerball Houston Strategy Couch
1976 Peeper Butler
1976 Midway Minoru Genda
1976 Special Delivery Mr. Chu
1976 SST: Death Flight Roy Nakamura
1977 Black Sunday Japanese Man Uncredited
1978 Gray Lady Down Seaman at Base Uncredited
1984 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Tohichi Hikita
1985 Pray for Death Koga
1987 P.I. Private Investigations Kim
1988 Aloha Summer Ted Tanaka
1989 The Vineyard Auctioneer
1990 Crazy People Yamashita's Aide
1995 The War Between Us Mr. Kawashima
1996 Hollow Point Shin Chan
1999 The Omega Code Shimoro Lin Che
1999 Lima: Breaking the Silence President Fujimoro

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Robert Ito". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. ↑ Quincy M.E., The Television Series. BearManor Media. October 2009. p. 168. ISBN 9781593934545.
  3. ↑ "Flower Drum Song – Broadway Musical – 1960-1961 Tour | IBDB".
  4. ↑ ""Kung Fu" The Assassin (TV Episode 1973)". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Robert Ito (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 11, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
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