Masao Kusakari (草刈 正雄, Kusakari Masao, born September 5, 1952 in Kokura) is a Japanese actor and model.
Biography
Masao Kusakari was born in Fukuoka Prefecture (on the Southern island of Kyushu) to a Japanese mother and an American father who died in the Korean War. Because of his heritage, he was taller than the average Japanese of the time. Considered stunningly good looking, his debut into the public eye began when he became a model for the Shiseido Cosmetics Company in the early 1970s. From there he broke into television and film, where he has worked steadily for over 30 years. He has a broad range, from starring in a television comedy series such as "Tsuhan Man" ("Shopping Hero" about a home shopping network), to singing in musicals such as "Victor-Victoria," "My Fair Lady" and "Cabaret."
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|
| 1974 | ESPY | Jirō Miki | Jun Fukuda |
| 1976 | Brother and Sister | Inokichi | Tadashi Imai |
| 1979 | G.I. Samurai | Masakichi | Kōsei Saitō |
| 1980 | Virus | Yoshizumi | Kinji Fukasaku |
| 1981 | Eijanaika | Itoman | Shohei Imamura |
| 1989 | Yuwakusha | Kazuhiko Sotomura | Shunichi Nagasaki |
| 2004 | Ultraman | Manjōme | Kazuya Konaka |
Television dramas
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|
| 1981 | Pro Hunter | | NTV | |
| 1985 | Sanada Taiheiki | Sanada Yukimura | NHK | |
| 1994 | Minami-kun no Koibito | Chiyomi's father | EX | |
| Hana no Ran | Hino Katsumitsu | NHK | Taiga drama |
| 1996 | Furuhata Ninzaburō | Ken'ichirō Inui | CX | |
| Iguana Girl | Masanori Aoshima | EX | |
| 2005 | Yoshitsune | Taira no Tomoyasu | NHK | Taiga drama |
| 2008 | Atsuhime | Abe Masahiro | NHK | Taiga drama |
| 2010 | Saka no Ue no Kumo | Katō Tomosaburō | NHK | |
| 2011 | Gō | Honda Masanobu | NHK | Taiga drama |
| 2012 | Priceless | Hirose | CX | |
| 2016 | Sanada Maru | Sanada Masayuki | NHK | Taiga drama |
| 2017 | Bakumatsu Gourmet Bushi Meshi! | The Lord | NHK | |
Dubbing
| Title | Role | Notes |
|---|
| My Best Friend's Wedding | George Downes (Rupert Everett) | 2000 NTV edition |
| WALL-E | Captain B. McCrea | |
Awards and prizes
