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Hiro Kanagawa

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The native form of this personal name is Kanagawa Hironobu. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Hiro Kanagawa
金川 弘敦
Born
Hironobu Kanagawa

(1963-10-13) October 13, 1963 (age 61)
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Education
Occupations
  • Actor
  • playwright
  • screenwriter
Years active1979–present
Japanese name
Kanji金川 弘敦
Transcriptions
RomanizationKanagawa Hironobu
Websitewww.hirokanagawa.com

Hironobu Kanagawa (金川 弘敦, Kanagawa Hironobu, October 13, 1963) is a Japanese-Canadian actor and playwright based in Vancouver, British Columbia.[1][2]

He has appeared in numerous high-profile films and television series shot in the Vancouver area, including The X-Files, Smallville, Caprica, Godzilla, The Man in the High Castle, Altered Carbon, iZombie, Legends of Tomorrow, Heroes Reborn, Kim's Convenience, and Shōgun, and was a writer on Da Vinci's City Hall. As a voice-over artist, he was the original English-language voice of Gihren Zabi in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise and played Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes.

Kanagawa's play Indian Arm won the 2015 Jessie Richardson Theatre Award and the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language Drama. He is also a four-time Leo Award nominee.

Early life and education

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Kanagawa was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan[3] and grew up in Guelph, Ontario, Sterling Heights, Michigan, and Tokyo.[citation needed] He graduated from International Christian University High School. Prior to his acting career, he worked in Tokyo as a sculptor and rock musician.[4]

Kanagawa conducted his undergraduate studies in sculpting at Middlebury College, where he graduated in 1986.[5][6] He also attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.[7] After dropping out of his initial graduate program, he re-enrolled at Simon Fraser University, where he completed his first play[6] and completed his MFA in 1994.[8]

Career

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Kanagawa played Principal Kwan in TV series Smallville. He also voiced Gihren Zabi from Mobile Suit Gundam. He was also the voice of Mister Fantastic on Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes. Kanagawa has the distinction of having played three different characters in the TV series The X-Files, appearing independently in seasons 2, 4 and 10.

Besides acting, Kanagawa is also a playwright[2] and screenwriter and teaches creative writing in the English department at Capilano University.[9] He is an Associate Member of the Playwrights’ Theatre Centre.[10]

In 2015, he won the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Outstanding Script for his play Indian Arm, an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf.[5] In 2017, Indian Arm won the Governor General's Award for English-language drama.[11][12]

Personal life

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Kanagawa has lived in British Columbia since 1990.[1] He resides in Port Moody, B.C. with his wife, artist Tasha Faye Evans.[13] They have two children together.[7]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Born Too Soon Resident
1994 My Name is Kate Doctor
Voices from Within Medical Examiner
1995 A Child Is Missing Agent Kurosaka
Cyberjack Kenji
1997 Bliss Emergency Doctor
Excess Baggage Jon
1998 Futuresport Otomo Akira
1999 Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying Controller
Resurrection Tech #2
2000 The Guilty Police Detective
Protection Don
Best in Show Pet Shop Owner
2001 Josie and the Pussycats Japanese Delegate
2005 Hiro Hiro
Best Friends Detective Miyashiro
2006 Family in Hiding Kanagawa
2007 War Yoshido
2008 The Day the Earth Stood Still Dr. Ikegawa
2009 Hardwired Dr. Steckler
Girlfriend Experience John
2010 The King of Fighters Saisyu Kusanagi
2011 Doomsday Prophecy Dr. Yates
Earth's Final Hours Tech
2013 Down River Aki's Father
Grave Halloween Jin
2014 Godzilla Hayato
2015 The Age of Adaline Kenneth
2018 Fifty Shades Freed Detective Clark
2019 Midway Commander Isamu Fujita
2020 Deeper I Go Short film
2021 Crisis Dr. Ishiyama
iDorothy Sal Short film
Hiro and the Emerald Lady Hiro
Needle in a Timestack Tattersal
Every Breath You Take Dr. Toth
2022 Orphan: First Kill Detective Donnan

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Madison Teacher
Highlander: The Series Akira Yoshida
M.A.N.T.I.S. Yakuza Translator
1994, 1997, 2016 The X-Files Dr. Yonechi, Peter Tanaka, Garner 3 episodes
1998, 2000 The Outer Limits Ron Hikida / Tali 2 episodes
1996 Sliders Henry Episode: "Obsession"
1998 Cold Squad
The Inspectors Polygraph Tech Television film
1999 The Net Frank Episode: "Y2K - Total System Failure"
2000 Seven Days Mr. Kim / Dr. Oshima 2 episodes
Dark Angel Theo Episode: "Pilot"
The Linda McCartney Story Senior Narcotics Officer Television film
2001–02 Smallville Principal James Kwan 5 episodes
2002 Damaged Care Dr. Kitano
Living with the Dead Frank the Business Consultant
2003 Betrayed Dr. Tanaka Television film
2005 The 4400 Agent Park 2 episodes
Criminal Minds Seattle ASAC Episode: "Extreme Aggressor"
Steklo Akira
Andromeda Burma 2 episodes
Stargate SG-1 Mr Wayne Episode: "Full Alert"
Da Vinci's City Hall Fire Captain Roy Komori 9 episodes
2006 Blade: The Series Taka Episode: "The Sacrifice"
2007 Intelligence Detective Ogawa 7 episodes
2008 Heroes and Villains Mitsunari Ishida Episode: "Shogun"
What Color Is Love? Henry Wong Episode:
The Story of Saiunkoku Kaku Episode: "It's the Company That Makes Travel Unpleasant"
2009 Supernatural Game Show Host Episode: "Changing Channels"
Reaper Morris 3 episodes
Sanctuary Ark-Fong Li Episode: "Eulogy"
2010 Caprica Cyrus Xander 13 episodes
Human Target Lt. Peale Episode: "Pilot"
Fringe Lawyer Episode: "The Box"
2011–12 The Secret Circle Calvin Wilson 2 episodes
2012 Continuum Dr. Ted Gibson Season 1 episode 3
2012–14 Blackstone Harold 4 episodes
2013 The Tomorrow People Corbin Episode: "All Tomorrow's Parties"
Bates Motel Dr. Kurata 2 episodes
2013-14 Almost Human Recollectionist 3 episodes
2014 The 100 Council Member #3 3 episodes, season 1
2015 The Returned Dr. Hiromoto 3 episodes
The Magicians Professor March 2 episodes
The Whispers Team Member 1 Brent 3 episodes
Dark Matter Emperor Ishida Tetsuda 2 episodes
2015–16 The Man in the High Castle Taishi Okamura 5 episodes
Heroes Reborn Hachiro Otomo/Red Samurai 8 episodes
2015, 2018 iZombie Lieutenant Suzuki 8 episodes, Recurring season 1; guest season 4
2016 Timeless Agent Kondo Episode: "Pilot"
Zoo Curtis Episode: "The Moon and the Star"
Kim's Convenience Pastor Choi 2 episodes
2017–18 Legends of Tomorrow Director Wilbur Bennett 4 episodes, season 3
2018 Altered Carbon Captain Tanaka 7 episodes
Salvation Chief Justice Martin Cheng 4 episodes
Designated Survivor NASA Liaison to the President Richard Kim Episode: "The Final Frontier"
2019 The Order Detective Hayashi Episode: "Hell Week, Part One"
Warigami James Ohata 6 episodes
The Terror Dr. Kitamura 2 episodes
Limetown R.B. Villard 2 episodes
See Lord Unoa 4 episodes
2020 Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist Dr. Hamara 3 episodes
Charmed Dr. Tanaka Episode: "Unsafe Space"
Helstrom Father Sean Okamoto Episode: "Viaticum"
2021 Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan Narrator Voice role; 6 episodes
The Good Doctor Dr. Paul Nakano Episode: "Letting Go"
2022 Star Trek: Discovery Dr. Hirai 4 episodes
Pachinko Goto-San Episode: "Chapter One"
2022–23 Upload Sato 4 episodes
So Help Me Todd Alistair Song 2 episodes
2023 The Night Agent FBI Director Willet 3 episodes
2023–24 Percy Jackson and the Olympians Headmaster / Kronos 2 episodes[14]
2024 Avatar: The Last Airbender Fire Lord Sozin Episode: "Aang"
Shōgun Igarashi Yoshitomo 3 episodes
Family Law 1 episode

Voice acting

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Mobile Suit Gundam Gihren Zabi English-language dub
Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat The Foolish Magistrate
2003 Master Keaton Fumio Hisayama English-language dub
2004 InuYasha Saint Hakushin
2006–2007 Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes Mister Fantastic
2007 Black Lagoon Col. Matsuto English-language dub
2020 Monster Beach Stress Leave
2021 Future Boy Conan Dr. Briac Lao English-language dub
2022 Team Zenko Go Mr. Tanaka

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front Gihren Zabi English version
Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon
2003 Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
2023 Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest - The Adventures of Dai Matoriv

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Notes
2006 Leo Awards Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama Hiro Nominated
2021 The Tailor Nominated
Deeper I Go Nominated
Vancouver Short Film Festival Best Performance by a Man Won
UBCP/ACTRA Awards Best Supporting Performance, Male Won
2022 Leo Awards Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama iDorothy Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "God's Baboons » Cast » Hiro Kanagawa". Godsbaboons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
  2. ^ a b Birnie, Peter (November 25, 2010). "Stanley Park storm inspires Christmas play". The Vancouver Sun. Postmedia. p. C.7. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Fleshman, Cu (2019-10-30). "From 'Limetown' to 'See,' Actor Hiro Kanagawa Is Turning Up The Thrills". Character Media. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  4. ^ Canada, Playwrights Guild of (2022-12-01). "Featured Member — Hiro Kanagawa". Medium. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  5. ^ a b Middlebury College (2018). Middlebury College magazine. Vol. 92, No. 3 : 2018. Middlebury, Vt. : The College, 1981-.
  6. ^ a b Cleugh, Janis (October 17, 2017). "PoMo playwright up for GG award". Tri-City News. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  7. ^ a b "Hiro Kanagawa Official Website - Home". hirokanagawa. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  8. ^ "Hiro Kanagawa | Asian Heritage in Canada". Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  9. ^ "Hiro Kanagawa – Asian Heritage in Canada". Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  10. ^ "Hiro Kanagawa – Asian Heritage in Canada". Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  11. ^ Hennig, Clare (November 5, 2017). "Port Moody playwright wins national award for Indian Arm". CBC. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "Governor General Literary Awards announced: Joel Thomas Hynes wins top English fiction prize". CBC News, November 1, 2017.
  13. ^ "Tasha Faye Evans posted a story update on Tasha Faye Evans for Port Moody City Council". FundRazr. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  14. ^ Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Action, Adventure, Family), Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television, Co-Lab 21, 2023-12-19, retrieved 2024-01-21{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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