Issey Ogata is a Japanese actor and comedian who was born in Fukuoka, Japan, on February 22, 1952. His career began after graduating from high school when he joined a theatrical company and appeared on stage. He gained early recognition as an entertainer after winning a gold medal in an audition called Birth of Comedians, which led to roles on Japanese television. He continues to perform in solo plays at the GyanGyan Theater in Shibuya.

While primarily known for his extensive work in live-action film and television, Ogata has also contributed his voice to anime projects. In the 2022 animated film DEEMO Memorial Keys, based on the popular rhythm game, he voiced the character Nutcracker. Nutcracker is described as one of three dolls living in a mysterious castle, characterized as a slow-paced doll with the air of an old man who tells silly jokes.

Ogata also voiced the character Sudarban in the 2023 anime project Phoenix: Eden17 and its film version, Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower. This adaptation is based on the Nostalgia arc of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga, Phoenix.

Beyond these specific anime roles, Ogata has had a prolific career in film, with notable appearances in internationally acclaimed movies. His live-action roles include Mr. Ota in Edward Yang's Yi Yi, the title role in Jun Ichikawa's Tony Takitani, Emperor Hirohito in Aleksandr Sokurov's The Sun, and an interpreter in Martin Scorsese's Silence. His extensive filmography demonstrates a career spanning several decades, transitioning from stage and comedy to become a respected figure in Japanese cinema and, more recently, in anime voice acting.