SAKATA, HAROLD

Contributed by: The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia by Steven Jay Rubin

(July 1, 1920–July 29, 1982; birth name: Toshiyuki Sakata; wrestling name: Tosh Togo): Powerfully built Hawaiian wrestler turned actor of Japanese descent who portrayed Oddjob, the iconic Korean henchman in Goldfinger, his film debut. Certainly one of the most memorable villains in screen history, Oddjob works for Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) as his manservant, chauffeur, and all around goon, battling James Bond (Sean Connery) from Miami to Switzerland to the bluegrass country of Kentucky. Their climactic battle in Fort Knox stands out as one of the Bond series’ best set pieces.

The following year, Sakata made his television debut opposite Robert Fuller, Robert Loggia, and Ann Blyth in the “Jungle of Fear” episode of Kraft Suspense Theater (1965). Sakata’s additional feature film credits include The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966), for Bond director Terence Young; Dimension 5 (1966); The Phynx (1970), billed as “Harold ‘Oddjob’ Sakata”; Impulse (1974), as Karate Pete; The Wrestler (1974), reprising the role of Oddjob for a bizarre bar fight scene; Goin’ Coconuts (1978), opposite Donny and Marie Osmond; and Invaders of the Lost Gold (1982), his final performance.

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