Date of birth: October 12, 1960 (Age 59)
Full name: Hiroyuki Shimosawa
Birthplace: Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Height: 5’ 7” (170 cm)
Weight: 139 lbs (63 kg)
Hiroyuki Sanada body measurements
Chest: 44” (112 cm)
Waist: 32” (81 cm)
Arms/Biceps: 16” (41 cm)
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
Mixed martial artist and former recording artist, Hiroyuki Sanada is not just a top actor in Japan alone but his work in Hollywood can attest to the fact that he is one of the very best across the globe. His expertise stretched between the stage and on screen.
With an ambition to become an action star, Hiroyuki began training in karate and Shaolin boxing from the age of 11 and soon became a protégé of famed action star, Sonny Chiba. He grew up as a child actor, making his debut at just 5 years of age in 1966 film, Game of Chance as well as its 1967 sequel. He appeared in 9 films before he turned 18 and also began to release series of songs in 1980, mostly from his film & TV work.
All across Asia, Hiroyuki became renowned for playing The Immortal in the 1986 film, Kirito No Sengyo as well as Seibei Iguchi in Tasogare Seibei (2002). In Hollywood, he has starred in many films such as 47 Ronin (2003), Life (2017), The Wolverine (2013) and is due to play Scorpion in Mortal Kombat in 2021. In 2002, he was awarded an MBE for his work in Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of King Lear.
Hiroyuki has certainly changed his look over the years from shuffling between facial hair or not and even its styles and his haircuts, but the most significant change he has had made was shaving his hair straight down the middle for his role in Tasogare Seibei.
Have you wondered why even as he approaches 60 years, he still looks like he’s just starting life? His lifestyle is very active and uses his martial arts training as his workouts. He does all of his own stunts and fighting scenes during filming and this keeps him in an excellent shape, hopefully for the next 20 years.