Who were Sonny Chiba's wives? 'Kill Bill' star who played Hattori Hanzo dead at 82
Actor and martial artist Sonny Chiba died on Thursday, August 19. He was 82 years old. According to reports, Chiba was suffering from pneumonia caused by Covid-19. The actor's agency reported that he had gone to the hospital on August 8 as his pneumonia from Covid-19 worsened. Though he was put on supplemental oxygen, he was unable to recover.
If reports are to be believed, the actor was not vaccinated against Covid-19. We have witnessed the demise of many great actors in 2021 — Rick Aiello, Markie Post, Jay Pickett, to name a few.
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Born Sadaho Maeda on January 22, 1939, in Fukuoka, Sonny Chiba moved to Kimitsu at the age of four. He was internationally famous for his stunts in 'Battle Royale II: Requiem', 'Kill Bill', 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift', 'The Street Fighter' as well as for playing the 'fighting master' in over a hundred films. The actor gained popularity in Japan through the 1968 TBS television series 'Key Hunter' and the Fuji TV series 'Shadow Warriors'.
Who was Sonny Chiba married to?
Sonny Chiba was once married to actress Yōko Nogiwa, with whom he has a daughter, Juri Manase, who is also an actress. After divorcing his first wife, Chiba married Tamami in 1996. The couple had two sons together, Mackenyu Arata and Gordon. Arata and Gordon both are actors. Tamami and Chiba separated in 2015.
'RIP, Sonny Chiba'
Fans took to Twitter and posted condolence messages for the late actor. One fan wrote, "R.I.P. to legendary actor Sonny Chiba, who has passed away. He once helped create a mascot named Jube, based on the samurai Yagyu Jubei, who Chiba played in various movies and TV shows." Another tweeted, "RIP Sonny Chiba, the Street Fighter. A legend so larger-than-life, so ferocious, ao awesome that wolfman Chiba was just a meaner angrier Chiba. His skull-crushing bone-crunching bear-fighting legacy will not be forgotten."
One tweet read, "Sonny Chiba passed due to COVID. many will probably know him as Hattori Hanzo from Kill Bill, but he had such an accomplished film career spanning over 50 years of awesome king fu films like Golgo 13 and Shoguns Samurai RIP" Another fan wrote, "Just found out legendary Action star #SonnyChiba has passed away Sonny Chiba was more than action star, he made many movies inc action, horror and crime flicks. Most western film fans will know him from Kill Bill but he’s truly a legend of cinema. He will never be forgotten."
R.I.P. to legendary actor Sonny Chiba, who has passed away. He once helped create a mascot named Jube, based on the samurai Yagyu Jubei, who Chiba played in various movies and TV shows. pic.twitter.com/nlAJcu5adg
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) August 19, 2021
RIP Sonny Chiba, the Street Fighter. A legend so larger-than-life, so ferocious, ao awesome that wolfman Chiba was just a meaner angrier Chiba. His skull-crushing bone-crunching bear-fighting legacy will not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/58OpiSOeuZ
— GenreFilmAddict (@GenreFilmAddict) August 19, 2021
Sonny Chiba passed due to COVID. many will probably know him as Hattori Hanzo from Kill Bill, but he had such an accomplished film career spanning over 50 years of awesome king fu films like Golgo 13 and Shoguns Samurai
— Matt (@Matt_FOS) August 19, 2021
RIP pic.twitter.com/BzRaNP7YVM
Just found out legendary Action star #SonnyChiba has passed away 😞
— H A S S A N (@Neo_Manifesto) August 19, 2021
Sonny Chiba was more than action star, he made many movies inc action, horror and crime flicks. Most western film fans will know him from Kill Bill but he’s truly a legend of cinema.
He will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/bsshdGGhQL