Tomoharu Takeo
Description
Tomoharu Takeo, born February 5, 1951, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and singer professionally known by his stage name Ryusei Nakao. He is affiliated with the agency 81 Produce and has also worked under the name Tomoharu Minamiya.
Takeo began his entertainment career at a very young age, joining the theater company Himawari at three years old on his grandparents' recommendation. He made his voice acting debut at age five in a radio drama. His debut as an anime voice actor came at age 14 in 1965, playing the character Jun in the series Space Patrol Hopper. This early start established him as a veteran in the voice acting industry with a career spanning several decades.
A significant early role came in 1973 when he played Go Arashi in the series Zero Tester. This performance is a noted part of his extensive filmography from the 1970s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he built a robust career, voicing characters in numerous classic anime such as Carlos Rivera in Ashita no Joe 2, Takashi Shirogane in Beast King GoLion, and Isami Nishimura in the beloved sports series Touch.
His voice, characterized by a high-pitched, somewhat androgynous, and often sinister quality, has led him to be frequently cast in villainous and eccentric roles. He is renowned for portraying some of anime's most memorable antagonists. His most iconic role is the universe-conquering tyrant Frieza in the Dragon Ball franchise, a character he has voiced across multiple series including Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Kai, and Dragon Ball Super. He is equally famous for his performance as the perpetually sneezing germ villain Baikinman in the long-running children's series Soreike! Anpanman, a role he has played since the show began in 1988. Other major roles include the sadistic 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach and the gas-logia user Caesar Clown in One Piece.
Over his long career, Takeo has collaborated with many of the industry's leading figures and production studios, consistently appearing in major franchises produced by Toei Animation. His ability to switch between menacing villains for shonen series and more comedic or quirky characters for other shows demonstrates his wide vocal range.
In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Tomoharu Takeo has received several notable accolades. In 2016, he won the award for Best Voice Actor at the 25th Japanese Film Critics Awards for his performance as Frieza in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'. The following year, at the 11th Seiyu Awards in 2017, he was honored with the Kei Tomiyama Memorial Prize, which recognizes a voice actor who has popularized the profession across different media. He continues to be an active and respected figure in the world of Japanese animation.
Takeo began his entertainment career at a very young age, joining the theater company Himawari at three years old on his grandparents' recommendation. He made his voice acting debut at age five in a radio drama. His debut as an anime voice actor came at age 14 in 1965, playing the character Jun in the series Space Patrol Hopper. This early start established him as a veteran in the voice acting industry with a career spanning several decades.
A significant early role came in 1973 when he played Go Arashi in the series Zero Tester. This performance is a noted part of his extensive filmography from the 1970s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he built a robust career, voicing characters in numerous classic anime such as Carlos Rivera in Ashita no Joe 2, Takashi Shirogane in Beast King GoLion, and Isami Nishimura in the beloved sports series Touch.
His voice, characterized by a high-pitched, somewhat androgynous, and often sinister quality, has led him to be frequently cast in villainous and eccentric roles. He is renowned for portraying some of anime's most memorable antagonists. His most iconic role is the universe-conquering tyrant Frieza in the Dragon Ball franchise, a character he has voiced across multiple series including Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Kai, and Dragon Ball Super. He is equally famous for his performance as the perpetually sneezing germ villain Baikinman in the long-running children's series Soreike! Anpanman, a role he has played since the show began in 1988. Other major roles include the sadistic 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach and the gas-logia user Caesar Clown in One Piece.
Over his long career, Takeo has collaborated with many of the industry's leading figures and production studios, consistently appearing in major franchises produced by Toei Animation. His ability to switch between menacing villains for shonen series and more comedic or quirky characters for other shows demonstrates his wide vocal range.
In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Tomoharu Takeo has received several notable accolades. In 2016, he won the award for Best Voice Actor at the 25th Japanese Film Critics Awards for his performance as Frieza in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'. The following year, at the 11th Seiyu Awards in 2017, he was honored with the Kei Tomiyama Memorial Prize, which recognizes a voice actor who has popularized the profession across different media. He continues to be an active and respected figure in the world of Japanese animation.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: Zero Tester