According to his IMDb profile, he's been dead for over a year now. Passed away in April 2010. I had no idea. As Sato (Satan to the prison camp inmates) in Tenko, he was probably one of the most hated TV characters of all time. They say when you really hate a villian from a film/TV show/play you can tell they're being played a good actor. RIP.
shareI agree, he was great in Tenko. RIP.
sharehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/may/27/eiji-kusuhara-obituary
shareEiji's death didn't attract a lot of media coverage. I suppose he was never a star. Perfect, as Sato. Great fun in Banzai, too.
shareCapatin Sato/Eijii Kusuhara appeared in 'Are You Being Served?' in Monkey Business as the english speaking Japanese who was to take over Grace Bros. Very reminiscint of Sato when he says 'That English welcome we understood...' when subjected to a two fingered salute and a raspberry from the staff of the Ladies and Gents dept!
shareIn the Tenko book they say he was one of only two Japanese actors on the Equity (UK version of SAG) books at the time. That's why he got all these bit parts. They say he was a really nice bloke in real life.
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