Robert Ito (born July 2, 1931) is a Canadian

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), l ...

of Japanese ancestry. He is known for his television and film work, including the roles of Sam Fujiyama on the 1976–83 NBC series '' Quincy, M.E.'' and Larry Mishima on the 1980s CBS primetime soap opera ''

Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...

'', and a variety of voice acting for animation. He was nominated for a

Gemini Award The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United State ...

for his performance in the 1994 film '' Trial at Fortitude Bay''.

Career

Ito was a dancer with the

National Ballet of Canada The National Ballet of Canada is a Canadian ballet company that was founded in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario, with Celia Franca as the first artistic director. A company of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, the National Ballet has been led since 2022 ...

before coming to Broadway and dancing in such shows as "Flower Drum Song"(1960-1961). He turned to acting in the mid-1960s, which led to a number of roles playing Asian or Asian-ancestry characters in American productions. He appeared three times (as different characters) in the 1970s TV series ''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to commo ...

''; 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". He likewise portrayed two different Korean characters in episodes of the TV series ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker (auth ...

'', in 1972 and 1976. Ito acted in the

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phil ...

film '' Midway'' as

Minoru Genda was a Japanese military aviator and politician. He is best known for helping to plan the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was also the third Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Early life Minoru Genda was the second son of a farme ...

, the leader of the 1942 attack on

Midway Island Midway Atoll (colloquial: Midway Islands; haw, Kauihelani, translation=the backbone of heaven; haw, Pihemanu, translation=the loud din of birds, label=none) is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. Midway Atoll is an insular area of the Unit ...

. In 1976, he was cast as forensic lab technician Sam Fujiyama, a regular supporting role he played for seven years on '' Quincy, M.E.'' His other film credits include ''

The Terminal Man ''The Terminal Man'' is a novel by American writer Michael Crichton. It is his second novel under his own name and his twelfth overall, and is about the dangers of mind control. It was published in April 1972, and also serialized in ''Playboy'' ...

'' (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 ''

The King of Queens ''The King of Queens'' is an American television sitcom that ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007, a total of nine seasons and 207 episodes. The series was created by Michael J. Weithorn and David Litt, who also served as the sh ...

'', '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', ''

Captain Planet and the Planeteers ''Captain Planet and the Planeteers'' is an American animated environmentalist superhero television series created by Barbara Pyle and Ted Turner and developed by Pyle, Nicholas Boxer, Thom Beers, Andy Heyward, Robby London, Bob Forward and C ...

'', ''

Animaniacs ''Animaniacs'' is an American Animated series, animated Comedy television, comedy Musical film, musical television series created by Tom Ruegger for Fox Broadcasting Company's Fox Kids block in 1993, before moving to The WB in 1995, as part o ...

'', ''

Bonkers Bonkers is an informal British term that means "crazy" or "insane." It may also refer to: Television * ''Bonkers'' (American TV series), a 1993–1994 animated series * ''Bonkers'' (British TV series), 2007 comedy * ''Bonkers!'', a 1979 Brit ...

'', '' Batman: The Animated Series'', ''

Jackie Chan Adventures ''Jackie Chan Adventures'' is an American animated television series, created by John Rogers, Duane Capizzi and Jeff Kline, and produced by Sony Pictures Television (originally as Columbia TriStar Television for the first three seasons). T ...

'', '' 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 ''Biker Mice from Mars'' is an American science fiction action animated series created by Rick Ungar. The series premiered in syndication the week of September 19, 1993. It consists of three seasons of 65 episodes, with the final episode a ...

'', '' Quack Pack'', '' Capitol Critters'', '' ProStars'', ''

Justice League The Justice League (also known as The Justice League of America) are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). The team was conceived ...

'', ''

Darkwing Duck ''Darkwing Duck'' is an American animated superhero comedy television series produced by Disney Television Animation (formerly Walt Disney Television Animation) that first ran from 1991 to 1992 on both the syndicated programming block '' The D ...

'', '' Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers'', ''

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...

'', ''

The Karate Kid ''The Karate Kid'' is a 1984 American martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen. It is the first installment in the ''Karate Kid'' franchise, and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue a ...

'', ''

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo ''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo'' is an American animated mystery comedy series produced by Hanna-Barbera. It is the eighth incarnation of the studio's ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise and depicts younger versions of the title character and his human companion ...

'', '' Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures'', '' Rambo and the Forces of Freedom'', '' The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan'', ''

Savage Dragon The Savage Dragon is a fictional superhero created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic features the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon. The character first appear ...

'', '' TaleSpin'', '' Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos'', '' The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries'', ''

All Grown Up! ''All Grown Up!'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. It served as a continuation of the series ''Rugrats'', as explores the daily lives of protagonist Tommy Pickles ...

'', '' The Mummy: The Animated Series'', '' Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo'', ''The Woody Woodpecker Show'' (the 1999 version), ''

The Wild Thornberrys ''The Wild Thornberrys'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, Steve Pepoon, David Silverman, and Stephen Sustarsic for Nickelodeon. The series portrays an American family of wildlife documentary fi ...

'', '' Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects'', and '' Gargoyles''.

Selected filmography

Television

*''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the '' James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, ...

'' (1965) (as Number 3 in ''The Amazing Harry Hoo'' – uncredited) *'' Women of the Prehistoric Planet'' (1966) as Tang *'' Dimension 5'' (1966) as Sato *'' It Takes a Thief'' (1968 American T.V. series, season 1, episode 9) as Chief Aide *''

Some Kind of a Nut ''Some Kind of a Nut'' is a 1969 American comedy film written and directed by Garson Kanin and starring Dick Van Dyke, Angie Dickinson and Rosemary Forsyth. This was the final film of Dennis King. Plot Fred Amidon is a New York City bank ...

'' (1969) as George Toyota *''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS. It was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller. The title character, Joe Mannix, is a private in ...

'' (1970) season 4, episode 5, as Dr. Yoshira *''

'' (1972) Movie Pilot as Fong *''

'' (1973) season 6, episode 20, as Dr. Sato *''

'' (1973) season 2, episode 17, "The Assassin" as Blacksmith/Ninja *''

Soylent Green ''Soylent Green'' is a 1973 American ecological dystopian thriller film directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Edward G. Robinson in his final film role. It is loosely based on the 1966 scienc ...

'' (1973) as Shoe Seller (uncredited) *''

The Naked Ape ''The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal'' is a 1967 book by English Zoology, zoologist and ethology, ethologist Desmond Morris that looks at humans as a species and compares them to other animals. ''The Human Zoo (book), The Hu ...

'' (1973) as Samurai Warrior *''

'' (1974) season 2, episode 30, as Captain Lee *''

'' (1974) as Anesthetist *''

Airport 1975 ''Airport 1975'' (also known as ''Airport '75'') is a 1974 American air disaster film and the first sequel to the successful 1970 film ''Airport''. It was directed by Jack Smight, produced by William Frye, executive produced by Jennings Lang, an ...

'' (1974) as Passenger (uncredited) *'' Rollerball'' (1975) as Strategy Coach for Houston Team *'' Peeper'' (1976) as Butler *'' Midway'' (1976) as Cmdr.

*'' Special Delivery'' (1976) as Mr. Chu *'' SST: Death Flight'' (1977) as Flight Engineer Roy Nakamura *'' Black Sunday'' (1977) as Japanese Man (uncredited) *'' Gray Lady Down'' (1978) as Seaman at base (uncredited) *'' The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension'' (1984) as Professor Hikita *'' Pray for Death'' (1985) as Koga *'' P.I. Private Investigations'' (1987) as Kim *'' Aloha Summer'' (1988) as Ted Tanaka *'' The Vineyard'' (1989) as Auctioneer *'' Crazy People'' (1990) as Yamashita's Aide *''The War Between Us'' (1995) as Mr. Kawashima *'' Hollow Point'' (1996) as Shin Chan *'' The Omega Code'' (1999) as Shimoro Lin Che *'' Lima: Breaking the Silence'' (1999) as President Fujimoro

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ito, Robert 1931 births Canadian expatriates in the United States Canadian male actors of Japanese descent Japanese-Canadian internees Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male voice actors Living people Male actors from Vancouver 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male actors