Ken Ogata 1937 – 2008

Biography

Ken Ogata was born on July 20, 1937, in Ushigome-ku, beginning a life that would span seven decades in Japan. Throughout his career, he became known for his work as an actor, contributing to Japanese cinema and performance during a transformative period in the nation’s cultural history. His presence in the entertainment industry left an impression that extended across his professional lifetime.

On October 5, 2008, Ogata passed away in Mibu at the age of 71, after a battle with liver cancer. His death marked the end of a significant chapter in Japanese acting, closing a career that had allowed him to work within the industry across multiple decades of change and evolution in filmmaking and theater.

Though the specific details of his most celebrated roles and achievements remain part of his legacy, Ken Ogata’s life represented a commitment to the performing arts in Japan during the twentieth century. He is remembered as someone who dedicated himself to his craft during a remarkable era of Japanese culture.