"Beat" Takeshi Kitano in Achilles and the Tortoise (2008),
one of many films that he also wrote and directed
Writer, director, actor and television personality Takeshi Kitano was born in Tokyo on January 18th, 1947. After filling in for an ill comedian, he and a friend formed "The Two Beats," a comedy duo that became very popular in Japan. From this came his nickname of "Beat Takeshi."
Around 1995 he had a very serious motorcycle accident that nearly killed him.
Among his better known films in the west are: his version of Zatoichi (2003), which he directed and in which he starred as the title character initially made famous by Shintaro Katsu: Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale (2000), and Sonatine (1993), another film that he wrote, directed, and starred in. These, and many other of his films are readily available on DVD.
Happy 63rd B-day, "Beat"!
