MAKO Biography

Fast Facts

• The film "TMNT" in which he voiced the character Splinter was dedicated to him, as he was confirmed to star in it one day before his death
• Was nominated for a Tony for his leading role in the original cast of "Pacific Overtures․"
• Won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2002 Big Bear Lake International Film Festival
• After briefly studying architecture at the Pratt Institute, he was drafted and returned from the army to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse
• Originally intended to become an architect, but while studying for this career ath, a friend asked him to help design and build a stage set and he was hooked on the theater
• Spent two years serving in the United States Army
• Quote: "[on racial barriers] "I go into a young film director's office these days and he says, 'Hey man, I know who you are․ I grew up watching "McHale's Navy․"' And I think, 'Oh boy, here we go again․'""
• As an artistic director of East West Players, he staged Shakespeare and Chekhov classics, but also lesser-known contemporary works, devoting the entire 1981 season to works about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II
• While most of the roles available to Asian American actors at the beginning of his career were caricatures or stereotypes, he took such a part in "The Sand Pebbles" and made the character empathetic through his acting, opening the doors for others
• Voiced Aku in the video game "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku․"