TOKYO: Japanese action star Shinichi Chiba, who was known as Sonny Chiba overseas, died at a hospital in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Thursday. He was 82.

Chiba, whose real name was Sadaho Maeda, died after his pneumonia linked to COVID-19 worsened. He had been receiving oxygen since he was hospitalized on Aug. 8.

He started his actor’s career in the 1960s and became popular for his role in the “Key Hunter” television drama series. He did stunts by himself.

Chiba appeared in more than 1,000 films and dramas, including Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film “Kill Bill: Volume 1.” Chiba also directed and produced films.

In 1969, Chiba established Japan Action Club, a talent and entertainment firm that trained such action stars as Hiroyuki Sanada, Etsuko Shihomi and Shinichi Tsutsumi.

The late actress Yoko Nogiwa, who died in 2017, was a former wife of Chiba. Actor Mackenyu Arata is his eldest son.

JIJI Press