Jim Ishida

James Ishida
Born
James Susumu Ishida

(1943-07-29) July 29, 1943
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2006
SpouseMargaret Ishida

James Susumu Ishida (born July 29, 1943)[1] is an American retired actor.

Early life

Ishida was born in Stockton, California, the son of Japanese American parents James Takeshi Ishida (May 19, 1917 – January 24, 1980) and the late Sachiko "Sue" Ishida (May 31, 1920 – August 25, 2010). Ishida, who was also raised in the nearby town of Lodi, and his family were internees at a Japanese American internment camp in Rohwer, Arkansas for about a year during World War II, then released shortly after the conflict ended in 1945. Ishida's mother Sue served for many years in the Lodi Unified School District as a teacher, librarian, and culminating and as the Coordinator of the Instructional Materials Center there in 1982.[2]

He studied acting under Stella Adler, Darryl Hickman, Milton Katselas, and Lilyan Chauvin.

Career

Ishida portrayed T. Fujitsu, Marty McFly's boss in 2015 in Back to the Future Part II in 1989, and his most recent role was in 2005, when he had a part in the television movie Reading Room. Ishida had a recurring role on DYNASTY, as Alexis Colby Dexter’s butler. He has had guest parts in such TV shows as Nurses (1992), Baywatch (1992), Knots Landing (1989), The A-Team (1986), Trapper John, M.D. (1984), and The Rockford Files (1977). Ishida got his start in television in appearances on the hit CBS-TV show Hawaii Five-O, appearing in three episodes in different parts from 1973 to 1975. Ishida also appeared in a part as a Bali Majestic Guest in the Ken Kwapis directed film Dunston Checks In in 1996.

On stage, Ishida was a member of the East West Players, appearing in productions of Philip Kan Gotanda's The Dream of Kitamura (winning a Drama-Logue Award), Wakako Yamauchi's Not a Through Street,[3] a Hawaiian-set reinterpretation of Twelfth Night,[4] and the musical Pacific Overtures.[5] He co-starred, opposite John Goodman, in War Babies at the La Jolla Playhouse[6] and in Lisa Loomer's The Waiting Room at the Mark Taper Forum.[7]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1976MidwayPilot Lieutenant Takeo KodaUncredited
1983Hansel and GretelFather
1983Deal of the CenturyMasaggi's Aide #1
1986Deadly FriendCoroner
1989The Iron TriangleKhoi
1989Kinjite: Forbidden SubjectsNakata
1989Black RainOsaka Escort Officer
1989Back to the Future Part IIFujitsu
1990Predator 2Reporter #5
1991Driving Me CrazyNissan Boss
1991Showdown in Little TokyoAsian Cop #2
1991Cold HeavenDr. Tanaki
1991RicochetReporter #4
1991Strawberry RoadPete
1992CIA Code Name: AlexaGuest
1994The Next Karate KidTall Monk
1995Strange DaysMr. Fumitsu
1995ShowgirlsMr. Okida
1996Dunston Checks InBali Majestic Guest
1996The SilencersSenator Furiyo
1998ArmageddonClient #3
1999Godzilla 2000General TakadaVoice
2000Stanley's GigByron Fujisaki
2002Real Women Have CurvesLandlord
2004The TerminalYoshinoya Manager
2006Sweet and SourLea's Dad

Video games

References

  1. ↑ James Ishida birth reference
  2. ↑ Sachiko "Sue" Ishida (Ishida's mother's) obituary, 9-23-2010, accessed 10-7-2010.
  3. ↑ "STAGE REVIEW : A SigAlert on 'Through Street'". Los Angeles Times. 1991-10-21. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  4. ↑ Martinez, Julio (1995-06-28). "Twelf Nite". Variety. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
  5. ↑ "Pacific Overtures". About the Artists.
  6. ↑ "War Babies". About the Artists.
  7. ↑ "The Waiting Room". About the Artists.