Sessue Hayakawa

Sessue Hayakawa (June 10, 1889 – November 23, 1973) was a pioneering Japanese and American actor, celebrated for his remarkable contributions to cinema across various countries, including the United States, Japan, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. As an Issei (Japanese immigrant), Hayakawa emerged as one of the first Asian actors to achieve significant fame in both the U.S. and Europe. During the mid-1910s to the late 1920s, he enjoyed a level of recognition comparable to notable figures like Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks. In 1915, he commanded a remarkable weekly salary of $5,000, and by the 1920s, he was earning an impressive $2 million annually through his own production company. Over his prolific career, he appeared in more than 80 films, with two of his works preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry.

Among his most iconic roles, Hayakawa is particularly remembered for portraying Colonel Saito in the critically acclaimed film The Bridge on the River Kwai, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1957. He also played the role of the pirate leader in Disney's Swiss Family Robinson in 1960. Beyond acting, Hayakawa was a versatile artist, taking on roles as a theatre performer, film producer, director, screenwriter, novelist, martial artist, and even an ordained Zen master.