Hollywood’s First Asian American Romantic Lead Broke Barriers
By James Moreau | 14 May, 2025
James Shigeta's performances as the first Asian American romantic lead in the late 1950s were groundbreaking and have left a legacy in Hollywood.
Japanese-American actor James Shigeta, who passed away at 85, is perhaps best remembered as the first Asian American man cast as a romantic lead. In his 1959 debut film, The Crimson Kimono, Shigeta portrayed a character who won the romantic interest of a white female lead. His performance earned him a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year.
He was again romantic lead in two 1961 releases, Flower Drum Song and Bridge to the Sun. Yet Shigeta's most commercially successful film role was as the head of a Japanese trading company in the 1988 blockbuster, Die Hard, which grossed $144 million, about $550 million today’s dollars.
Before he become an actor Shigeta had a successful Las Vegas singing career after winning Ted Mack's The Original Amateur Hour in 1950.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1929, Shigeta went on to study drama at NYU and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Articles
- RM Joins Tablo to Score US Rap Chart Hit As Fans Await Reunion
- US Men's National Soccer Team to Face off Against Japan, South Korea
- Foxconn Surges on Nvidia AI, Apple iPhone Orders but Tariffs Dim Earnings Outlook
- Hollywood’s First Asian American Romantic Lead Broke Barriers
- BYD Outsells Toyota in World's Most Expensive Car Market
Asian American Success Stories
- The 130 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time
- 12 Most Brilliant Asian Americans
- Greatest Asian American War Heroes
- Asian American Digital Pioneers
- New Asian American Imagemakers
- Asian American Innovators
- The 20 Most Inspiring Asian Sports Stars
- 5 Most Daring Asian Americans
- Surprising Superstars
- TV’s Hottest Asians
- 100 Greatest Asian American Entrepreneurs
- Asian American Wonder Women
- Greatest Asian American Rags-to-Riches Stories
- Notable Asian American Professionals