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
EducationGeorge Brown College
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. He is known for portraying Shinji in Johnny Mnemonic, and for voicing Silver Samurai / Kenuichio Harada and Sunfire on X-Men: The Animated Series, and Malachite on the original English version of Sailor Moon.[2]

Early life and education

A third-generation Japanese Canadian (sansei),[4] Akiyama was born in Toronto in 1952 to Namiko (née Yamada) and Kaye Akiyama.[5] He attained a BA in Psychology from York University, and worked in child care. Akiyama was also a musician who played trumpet with the bands The Parachute Club and Pukka Orchestra. Akiyama went on to study acting at George Brown College.[2]

Career

Film

Akiyama started in film, before performing on stage.[6] He was well-known for his role as the supporting villain Shinji in the cult cyberpunk film Johnny Mnemonic (1995). He also appeared in films like David Cronenberg's Dead Ringers (1989), Space Truckers (1996), Cypher (2002), The Pacifier (2005), Flash of Genius (2008), Repo Men (2010), and Resident Evil: Afterlife (also 2010). In 2015, he appeared as Pac-Man creator Tōru Iwatani in Pixels.[7]

Television

Akiyama had a regular role on Katts and Dog as Officer Ron Nakemura and as Mr. Lee on She's the Mayor. He guest starred on numerous series, including Street Legal, War of the Worlds, ReGenesis, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Mayday, and Warehouse 13.

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]

Voice acting

Akiyama was a voice actor on numerous animated television series and video games, including The Adventures of Tintin. On X-Men: The Animated Series, he was the voice of Dr. Darrel Tanaka, Silver Samurai, and Sunfire.[8] He voiced the villain Malachite in the original English version of the Japanese anime Sailor Moon.[8]

He voiced Tong Si Hung in the Square Enix video game Deus Ex: Human Revolution.[8]

Personal life

Akiyama married Danielle O'Connor in 1987. The couple had two children, actor Kintaro Akiyama and Miya.[2][9]

Death

Akiyama died in Toronto on June 28, 2018, from a "very rare and aggressive cancer". He was 66 years old.[9]

Filmography

Live-action

Film

Television

Denis Akiyama live action television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1985For the RecordMichael Nakashima1 episode[3]
1986Check It OutUnknownIto[3]
1987 Seeing Things Unknown 1 episode [3]
Diamonds Unknown 1 episode [3]
1988Friday the 13th: The SeriesHai KwanEpisode: "Tattoo"[3]
1988–92 Katts and Dog Officer Ron Nakemura 49 episodes [9][3]
1988, 1989 Street Legal Jonathan Imatsu / Satien Loc 2 episodes [3]
1989, 1990T. and T.Ikuta / Mori2 episodes[3]
1990 War of the Worlds Chin 1 episode [3]
1991 Counterstrike Lok Episode: "Night of the Black Moon" (S2.E10) [3]
1990Inside StoriesAaron IwataEpisode: "Heartbreak Hoteru"
1992In the Eyes of a StrangerTV movie[3]
Top CopsWen Da Yee1 episode[3]
1993Ghost MomYamatoTV movie[3]
1994, 1996Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesLai Tzu / Lai (voice)2 episodes[3]
1995Visitors of the NightStranger #2TV movie[3]
1996Buried SecretsDoctor #1TV movie[3]
1996, 1997F/X: The SeriesDr. Miller / Lambert Chang2 episodes[3]
1997TradersUnknown1 episode[3]
1999Killing MoonDr. YamadaTV movie[3]
2000Code Name PhoenixDr. FongTV movie[3]
Relic HunterColonel Chang[3]
The Last DebateTV Makeup ArtistTV movie[3]
2001The JudgePeter JacobyEpisode: "Part One"[3]
2002Haven't We Met Before?TV movie[3]
Odyssey 5Akegi[3]
The Brady Bunch in the White HouseHopeful ManTV movie[3]
2003 Eloise at the Plaza Prince of Kushin TV movie [9]
2004The Cradle Will FallDr. FachitaTV movie[3]
H2OKazio IzumiTV miniseries[3]
DocJian Wa[3]
Kevin HillJudge Porter[3]
2005Cool MoneyDistrict AttorneyTV movie[3]
2005–12 Mayday Various roles 3 episodes
2006ReGenesisCrown Attorney1 episode[3]
A Christmas WeddingAsian Pacific PresidentTV movie[3]
2008Degrassi: The Next GenerationOncologistEpisode: "Death or Glory: Part 2"[3]
The SummitPrime Minister of JapanTV miniseries
Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the MermaidKyotoTV movie[3]
2009Wild RosesFukuwawa Sr.[3]
Warehouse 13Officer Ogawa[2][3]
2010Being EricaDr. Kotara1 episode[3]
2010–12Wingin' ItMr. Nakamura3 episodes[3]
2011 She's the Mayor Mr. Lee 13 episodes [9][2][3]
2015 12 Monkeys Nakano 1 episode [9]
Suits Mr. Tanaka 1 episode [9]
2018TakenSenseiEpisode: "Strelochnik"
CarterKoji Yasuda6 episodes (2 posthumously)[9][3]

Voice roles

Animation

Denis Akiyama animation voice credits
YearTitleVoice roleNotes Ref.
1991RupertAdditional voices[8][3]
1991–92 The Adventures of Tintin Mitsuhirato / Bunji Kuraki / Tharkey 3 episodes [8][3]
1993–97X-MenDr. Darrel Tanaka / Silver Samurai / Sunfire4 episodes[9][2][3]
1993–97The Busy World of Richard ScarryUnknown36 episodes[3]
1994Monster ForceAdditional voices13 episodes[3]
1994–95Wild C.A.T.sDockwell14 episodes[8][3]
1995Sailor MoonMalachite17 episodes[9][3]
1995–2001Little BearUnknown27 episodes[3]
1997, 1998DiabolikDirector GraffumEpisode: "Panther Uncaged"[3]
1998Silver SurferWatcher Prime3 episodes[9][3]
1998, 1999Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the LegendAmycus / Cyclops2 episodes[8][3]
1999MedabotsMr. Referee52 episodes. English version[8][3]
1999Power StoneGaluda / Referee7 episodes. English version[8][3]
1999Avengers: United They StandDr. Chris JohnsonEpisode: "Kang"[3]
1999Ned's NewtGuard / ElfEpisode: "Summer Gone, Summer Not / Sealed with a Newt"
2001BracefaceMr. LingEpisode: "Take That"
2003–05KingUnknown42 episodes[3]
2004Franny's FeetSallyEpisode: "The Lonely Library"[8][3]
2005Time Warp TrioIeyasu / Honda1 episode[8]
2005–08Delilah and JuliusUnknown31 episodes[3]
2005–09Mr. MeatyUnknown8 episodes[3]
2008Toot & PuddleDr. Ha Song5 episodes[3]
2008Chilly Beach: The Canadian PresidentEmperorTV special
2009Super Why!Additional voices1 episode[3]
2011–13Scaredy SquirrelAdditional voices13 episodes[3]
2011Justin TimeEmperorEpisode: "Secret Surprise & a Mammoth Mistake"
2017Inspector GadgetHattori-sanEpisode: "Tempest in a Tea Cup / Mr. Security"[8][3]

Video games

Denis Akiyama video game voice credits
YearTitleVoice roleNotes Ref.
2001Onimusha: WarlordsNobunaga Oda, NarratorEnglish dub[8]
2006Rainbow Six: VegasKan Akahashi[8]
2008Rainbow Six: Vegas 2[8]
2011Deus Ex: Human RevolutionTong Si HungCredited as 'Dennis Akiyama'[8]

References

  1. ↑ "DENIS VAN AKIYAMA Obituary". Toronto Star via Legacy.com. July 1, 2018. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fujino, David (May 29, 2013). "An Interview with Denis Akiyama". The Bulletin. Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association of Greater Vancouver. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 Lentz III, Harris M. (May 30, 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 6. ISBN 9781476636559. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ "DENIS AKIYAMA --Denis Akiyama Memories". DENIS AKIYAMA. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Namiko AKIYAMA Obituary". Toronto Star. Highland Funeral Home. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  6. ↑ "An Interview with Denis Akiyama". Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Denis Akiyama facts". Movietalky. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "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 March 10, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 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.
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