Denis Akiyama

Denis Akiyama
Born
Denis Van Akiyama[1]

(1952-05-28)May 28, 1952[2]
Toronto, Ontario, Canada[2]
DiedJune 28, 2018(2018-06-28) (aged 66)[3]
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1987–2018
Spouse
Danielle O'Connor
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2

Denis Van Akiyama (May 28, 1952 – June 28, 2018) [3] was a Canadian actor of stage, film and television, perhaps best known for portraying Shinji in Johnny Mnemonic, and for voicing Silver Samurai / Kenuichio Harada and Sunfire in X-Men, and Malachite in the original English version of Sailor Moon.[2]

Early life and education

Akiyama was born in Toronto, Ontario to a Japanese family. He attained a BA in Psychology from York University, and worked in child care. Akiyama was also a musician who played trumpet with The Parachute Club, and in The Pukka Orchestra. Denis went on to study acting at George Brown College.[2]

Career

Film

Akiyama started in film, before performing on stage.[4] In 2015, he appeared in the feature film Pixels.[5]

Television

He was a frequent guest star on Katts and Dog, as well as playing and voicing roles in The Adventures of Tintin animated series, and Mayday.

Theatre

In the early 1990s, Akiyama's stage performances included Miss Saigon on Broadway and in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Other theatre appearances include Philip Kan Gotanda's Song for a Nisei Fisherman, Sally Han's Naomi's Road, M. J. Kang's Dreams of Blonde & Blue, and Hiro Kanagawa's The Tiger of Malaya.[2]

Death

Akiyama died on June 28, 2018, from a "very rare and aggressive cancer". He and his wife Danielle had two children, Kintaro and Miya.[2][6] He was 66 years old.

Filmography

Film

Television

Denis Akiyama live action television credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1985 For the Record Michael Nakashima 1 episode [3]
1986 Check It Out Un­known Ito [3]
1987 Seeing Things Un­known 1 episode [3]
1987 Diamonds Un­known 1 episode [3]
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Hai Kwan Episode: "Tattoo" [3]
1988–1992 Rin Tin Tin: K-9 Cop Ron Nakemura 49 episodes. AKA Katts and Dog [6][3]
1988, 1989 Street Legal Jonathan Imatsu / Satien Loc 2 episodes [3]
1989, 1990 T. and T. Ikuta / Mori 2 episodes [3]
1990 War of the Worlds Chin 1 episode [3]
1991 Counterstrike Lok Episode: "Night of the Black Moon" (S2.E10) [3]
1990 Inside Stories Aaron Iwata Episode: "Heartbreak Hoteru"
1992 In the Eyes of a Stranger TV movie [3]
1992 Top Cops Wen Da Yee 1 episode [3]
1993 Ghost Mom Yamato TV movie [3]
1994, 1996 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Lai Tzu / Lai (voice) 2 episodes [3]
1995 Visitors of the Night Stranger #2 TV movie [3]
1996 Buried Secrets Doctor #1 TV movie [3]
1996, 1997 F/X: The Series Dr. Miller / Lambert Chang 2 episodes [3]
1997 Traders Un­known 1 episode [3]
1999 Killing Moon Dr. Yamada TV movie [3]
2000 Code Name Phoenix Dr. Fong TV movie [3]
2000 Relic Hunter Colonel Chang [3]
2000 The Last Debate TV Makeup Artist TV movie [3]
2001 The Judge Peter Jacoby Episode: "Part One" [3]
2002 Haven't We Met Before? TV movie [3]
2002 Odyssey 5 Akegi [3]
2002 The Brady Bunch in the White House Hopeful Man TV movie [3]
2003 Eloise at the Plaza Prince of Kushin TV movie [6]
2004 The Cradle Will Fall Dr. Fachita TV movie [3]
2004 H2O Kazio Izumi TV miniseries [3]
2004 Doc Jian Wa [3]
2004 Kevin Hill as Judge Porter [3]
2005 Cool Money District Attorney TV movie [3]
2005 Mayday Captain Masami Takahama TV documentary. AKA Air Crash Investigation
Episode: "Out of Control"
2006 ReGenesis Crown Attorney 1 episode [3]
2006 A Christmas Wedding Asian Pacific President TV movie [3]
2008 Degrassi: The Next Generation Oncologist Episode: "Death or Glory: Part 2" [3]
2008 The Summit Prime Minister of Japan TV miniseries
2008 Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid Kyoto TV movie [3]
2009 Wild Roses as Fukuwawa Sr. [3]
2009 Warehouse 13 Officer Ogawa [2][3]
2010 Being Erica Dr. Kotara 1 episode [3]
2010 Mayday Captain Chun Byung-in TV documentary. AKA Air Crash Investigation
Episode: "Target Is Destroyed"
2010-2012 Wingin' It Mr. Nakamora / Mr. Nakamura [3]
2011 She's the Mayor Mr. Lee 13 episodes [6][2][3]
2012 Mayday Captain Park Duk-kyu TV documentary. AKA Air Crash Investigation
Episode: "Bad Attitude" / "Stansted Crash"
2015 12 Monkeys Nakano 1 episode [6]
2015 Suits Mr. Tanaka 1 episode [6]
2018 Taken Sensei Episode: "Strelochnik"
2018 Carter Koji Yasuda 6 episodes (2 posthumously) [6][3]

Voice roles

Animation

Denis Akiyama animation voice credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1991 Rupert (additional voices) [7][3]
1991–1992 The Adventures of Tintin Mitsuhirato / Bunji Kuraki / Tharkey 3 episodes [7][3]
1993–1997 X-Men Dr. Darrel Tanaka / Silver Samurai / Sunfire 4 episodes [6][2][3]
1993–1997 The Busy World of Richard Scarry Un­known 36 episodes [3]
1994 Monster Force (additional voices) 13 episodes [3]
1994–1995 Wild C.A.T.s Dockwell 14 episodes [7][3]
1995 Sailor Moon Malachite 17 episodes [6][3]
1995–2001 Little Bear Un­known 27 episodes [3]
1997, 1998 Diabolik Director Graffum Episode: "Panther Uncaged" [3]
1998 Silver Surfer Watcher Prime 3 episodes [6][3]
1998, 1999 Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend Amycus / Cyclops 2 episodes [7][3]
1999 Medabots Mr. Referee 52 episodes. English version [7][3]
1999 Power Stone Galuda / Referee 7 episodes. English version [7][3]
1999 Avengers: United They Stand Dr. Chris Johnson Episode: "Kang" [3]
1999 Ned's Newt Guard / Elf Episode: "Summer Gone, Summer Not / Sealed with a Newt"
2001 Braceface Mr. Ling Episode: "Take That"
2003–2005 King Un­known 42 episodes [3]
2004 Franny's Feet Sally the tough old cat Episode: "The Lonely Library" [7][3]
2005 Time Warp Trio Ieyasu / Honda 1 episode [7]
2005–2008 Delilah and Julius Un­known 31 episodes [3]
2005–2009 Mr. Meaty Un­known 8 episodes [3]
2008 Toot & Puddle Dr. Ha Song 5 episodes [3]
2008 Chilly Beach: The Canadian President Emperor TV special
2009 Super Why! (additional voice) 1 episode [3]
2010–2013 Scaredy Squirrel (additional voices) 13 episodes [3]
2011 Justin Time Emperor Episode: "Secret Surprise & a Mammoth Mistake"
2017 Inspector Gadget Hattori-san Episode: "Tempest in a Tea Cup / Mr. Security" [7][3]

Video games

Denis Akiyama video game voice credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001 Onimusha: Warlords Nobunaga Oda, Narrator English dub [7]
2006 Rainbow Six: Vegas Kan Akahashi [7]
2008 Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 Kan Akahashi [7]
2011 Deus Ex: Human Revolution Tong Si Hung Credited as Dennis Akiyama [7]

References

  1. ^ "DENIS VAN AKIYAMA Obituary". Toronto Star via Legacy.com. 2018-07-01. Archived from the original on 2018-07-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Fujino, David (29 May 2013). "An Interview with Denis Akiyama". The Bulletin. Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association of Greater Vancouver. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci Lentz III, Harris M. (30 May 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 6. ISBN 9781476636559. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  4. ^ "An Interview with Denis Akiyama". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  5. ^ "Denis Akiyama facts". Movietalky. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Bartlett, Rhett (July 3, 2018). "The Toronto native was prolific across film, television, stage and anime for four decades". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Denis Akiyama (visual voices guide)". BTVA (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information). Retrieved 10 March 2021.
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