Biography
Masao Kusakari (草刈 正雄, Kusakari Masao, born September 5, 1952 in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka) is a Japanese actor and model. Masao Kusakari was born in Fukuoka Prefecture to a Japanese mother Sueko from Yukuhashi, and an American father Robert H. Tolar from Tar Heel, North Carolina, a USAF mailman who was deployed to Tsuiki Base during Korean War. Masao was told by Sueko (who died in 2010) that Robert had died in the Korean War, and he believed so, until NHK show "Family History" discovered that Robert had left Japan to move back to the US before Masao was born, then deployed to West Germany for several years as a military personnel, and later settled back in North Carolina where he died in 2013. After Masao was born, Sueko left her hometown Yukuhashi, where strong prejudices against children with mixed races existed, then settled in Kokura (Current Kitakyushu) where she worked for multiple jobs to raise Masao. Masao also started working as early as elementary school age as a newspaper delivery boy. He started his career as a fashion model in Fukuoka when he was a high school student. Considered stunningly good looking, Masao was scouted at age 17 by a model agency in Tokyo, where his debut into the public eye began when he became a model for Shiseido Cosmetics in the early 1970's. He joined Toho in 1974 and began his career as a screen actor. He won his first major award at the Elan d'or Awards in 1975, and a year later, appeared in Kaze to Kumo to Niji to, a dream of his since early childhood to star in a taiga drama. From then to the early 1980's, Kusakari was one of the most popular actors in Japan.He won popularity again through his role in Sanada Maru in 2016. In 2017, Kusakari won Best Supporting Actor of 10th Tokyo Drama Awards for his role in Sanada Maru.
In 2019, Kusakari appeared in the Asadora Natsuzora and played an important role that has a great influence on leading character Natsu's life.
Filmography
all 89
Movies 47
TV Shows 42
self 1
The Honest Realtor 2 (2024)
Dear Detective from RAMPO with Love (2023)
Hitotsubashi Kiriko's Crime Diary (2022)
Dreaming of the Meridian Arc (2022)
The Honest Realtor (2022)
Ojisama to Neko (2021)
Love Will Begin When Money Ends (2020)
Operation Z (2020)
Hit Me Anyone One More Time (2019)
Natsuzora (2019)
Innocence, Fight Against False Charges (2019)
My Retirement, My Life (2018)
68-Year-Old New Employee (2018)
Sharaku houmu outotsu tantei-dan (2018)
Fuunjitachi ~ Rangaku Kakumei-hen (2018)
Bushimeshi!--The Samurai Cook (2017)
The Best Skilled Surgeon 2017 (2017)
Sanadamaru (2016)
Tales of the Bizarre 25th Anniversary Autumn Special: Masterpiece Revival Collection (2015)
Keisei Saimin no Otoko (2015)
Beauty and the Fellow (2015)
結婚に一番近くて遠い女 (2015)
Emergency Interrogation Room (2014)
Meoto Zenzai (2013)
Recipes of Diet Diaries (2013)
Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon (2012)
Samurai Vendetta (2012)
Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012)
Atsuhime No.1 (2012)
Detective Conan: The Mystery of the Legendary Monster Bird (2011)
Kyukei no Koya (2010)
Kiina (2009)
Monster Parent (2008)
Atsuhime (2008)
0093: Masao Kusakari On Her Majesty's Secret Service (2007)
You Gotta Be Kidding Me! (2007)
The Mark of Beauty (2006)
Keitai Deka Zenigata Rai (2006)
Ultraman: The Next (2004)
Black Kiss (2004)
Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (2004)
I Want to be Loved to Love (2003)
動物のお医者さん (2003)
Onyado Kawasemi (2003)
Tsuhan-Man (2002)
Yakuza Ladies 11 (2001)
民事介入暴力 非合法領域 (2001)
Watashi no Aozora (2000)
Hakuchi: The Innocent (1999)
Black Jack 3: Black Mirror Image (1996)
Iguana Girl (1996)
Hashiran ka! (1995)
August in the Water (1995)
Shinjuku Shark (1995)
N45゜ (1994)
Yakuza Lawyer Haruhiko Ayanokoji (1994)
Furuhata Ninzaburo (1994)
Hana no Ran (1994)
南くんの恋人 (1994)
XX: Beautiful Weapon (1993)
Taming of the Shrew (1993)
Kuma-chan (1993)
Yakuza Ladies Revisited 2 (1993)
The Man With No Name (1991)
Inamura Jane (1990)
Monster Heaven: Ghost Hero (1990)
The Enchantment (1989)
"Guys Who Never Learn" Part 2 (1987)
Surgical Designs in Flames (1986)
Sanada Taiheiki (1985)
The Wangan Highway (1984)
The Last Hero (1982)
Pro Hunter (1981)
Why Not? (1981)
Virus (1980)
G.I. Samurai (1979)
The House of Hanging (1979)
日本巌窟王 (1979)
The Phoenix (1978)
Brother and Sister (1976)
ほんとうに (1976)
Wind, Clouds, and Rainbow (1976)
Invitation of Lust (1975)
ESPY (1974)
The Last Swordsman (1974)
Aoba shigereru (1974)
Kandagawa (1974)
Himiko (1974)
Emergency Interrogation Room: The Final
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1952-09-05 (71 years old)
Birth PlaceYukuhashi, Japan
Height185-centimeter
ChildrenKuran, Mayū Kusakari
CitizenshipsJapan
Also Known As草刈正雄, 쿠사카리 마사오
AwardsElan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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