Harold Sakata
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Toshiyuki "Harold" Sakata (July 1, 1920- July 29, 1982) was a film actor most famous for his role as the villain "Oddjob" in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
Career
Toshiyuki Sakata was born on July 1, 1920 in Holualoa, Hawaii, of Japanese descent; when he moved to mainland America he began to go by the more Western name "Harold." He spent his early life training as a weightlifter and won a silver medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London; he also did a stint as a professional wrestler under the name "Tosh Togo" from the early 1950's until the early 1960's.
Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli took notice of Sakata because his heavy build - he stood 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighed 284 lb (129 kg) - coupled with his intimidating gaze made him the perfect choice for the part of Oddjob. He had no acting background at all, but the character was mute and required little theatrical skill.
As Oddjob, he was bodyguard to Bond villain Auric Goldfinger and his sharpened, steel-brimmed bowler hat became a famous and much-parodied trademark of the Bond series. He appeared in several other movies in similar roles and took on "Oddjob" as a middle name.
He also appeared in a series of TV commercials for cough syrup, the premise of which was that he had a severe cough, causing him to smash everything in sight until someone gave him cough syrup.
Sakata died on July 29, 1982 in Honolulu, Hawaii, of cancer.
Pro Wrestling Championships
- 1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Los Angeles version) (with Wild Red Berry)
- 2-Time Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (with Toi Yamamoto)
- 1-Time Canadian Tag Team Champion
- 1-Time Hawaii Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time Hawaii Tag Team Champion (with King Curtis Iaukea)