Sometimes credited as Shoji Shimazaki, which was his birth name, Takashi Shimura is often hailed as one of Japan's all-time greatest actors. Most famous for his roles as Kanji Watanabe in Ikiru (1952), Kyohei Yamane in Godzilla (1954) and Kambei Shimada in Seven Samurai (1954), Shimura started his film career in 1934. The actor was first signed on by the Kinema Shinko studio, which had him playing samurai characters in several films up to 1943 when Toho approached the actor with a long term contract to work in Toho films. Shimura appeared often as the lead actor in his films until the late 1950's, when he shifted to playing supporting roles. Shimura was a favorite of both of Toho's best known directors, Akira Kurosawa and Ishiro Honda, due to his range as an actor and his tendency to turn out solid performances, even when given small roles. Shimura was an active actor, even into his 70's when his contract with Toho had long ended, and his last role was in Kurosawa's Kagemusha (1980), two years before his death.

Acting Toho Filmography
Sanshiro Sugata (1943) - Hansuke Murai, Sayo's Father
The Most Beautiful (1944) - Goro Ishida, Chief
Colonel Kato's Flying Squadron (1944)
The Daily Battle (1944)
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) - Kataoka
Those Who Make Tomorrow (1946) - Sumino, Theatre Manager
No Regrets for Our Youth (1946) - Dokuichigo, Police Commissioner 'Poison Strawberry'
Eleven Girl Students (1946)
Four Love Stories (1947) - Masao's Father
Snow Trail (1947) - Nojiri
24 Hours of a Secret Life (1947)
Spring Awakens (1947)
Drunken Angel (1948) - Sanada, Doctor
Lady from Hell (1949) - Chief of Police
Stray Dog (1949) - Sato, Detective
Angry Street (1950)
Sanshiro at Ginza (1950)
Elegy (1951)
The Idiot (1951) - Ono, Ayako's Father
The Blue Pearl (1951)
The Den of Beasts (1951)
Vendetta of a Samurai (1951)
Beyond Love and Hate (1951)
Foghorn (1952)
Sword for Hire (1952)
Ikiru (1952) - Kanji Watanabe
The Man Who Came to Port (1952)
Bloom Hills (1952) - Kenkichi Kimura
Life of Oharu (1952) - Old Man
The Eagle of the Pacific (1953) - Army Staff A Colonel
Last Embrace (1953) - Watanabe
Escape Zone (1953)
Seven Samurai (1954) - Kambei Shimada
Godzilla (1954) - Kyohei Yamane, Doctor
Godzilla Raids Again (1955) - Kyohei Yamane, Doctor
I Live in Fear (1955) - Harada, Domestic Court Counsler
Love Never Fails (1955) - Nobuo's Father
No Time for Tears (1955) - Shimamura, 'Sparrows' Coach
No Response From Car 33 (1955)
The Tears of Geisha Konatsu (1955)
New Kurama Tengu: Samurai of the Rain (1955)
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956) - Sado Nagaoka, Court Official
The Underworld (1956) - Tsunejiro Furuya
I Saw the Killer (1956) - Nagasawa
Throne of Blood (1957) - Noriyasu Odagura
Hokyaku Lost Petals (1957)
Hokyaku Lost Petals: Conclusion (1957)
A Dangerous Hero (1957)
The Mysterians (1957) - Tanjiro Adachi, Doctor
The Hidden Fortress (1958) - Izumi Nagakura, Old General
Inao: Story of an Iron Arm (1959)
Samurai Saga (1959)
The Three Treasures (1959) - Elder of the Kumaso Brothers
Saga of the Vagabonds (1959) - Saemon Toki
Whistling in Kotan (1959)
The Bad Sleep Well (1960) - Moriyama, Administrative Officer
Evening Stream (1960)
Man Against Man (1960) - Chotaro Masue
Master Fencer Sees the World (1960)
The Storm of the Pacific (1960) - Tosaku
The Masterless 47 (1960) - Honzo Kadokawa
Daredevil in the Castle (1961) - Katagiri
Yojimbo (1961) - Tokuemon
Challenge to Live (1961) - Yoshii
Mothra (1961) - News Editor
Reflux of Black Elegance (1961)
Different Sons (1961) - Ando Hisamitsu
The Masterless 47: Part II (1961) - Honzo Kadokawa
Sanjuro (1962) - Kurofuji
Gorath (1962) - Kesuke Sonoda
The Crimson Sky (1962)
Long Way to Okinawa (1962)
Chushingura (1962) - Hyobe Chishaka
High and Low (1963) - Chief of Investigation Section
Samurai Pirate (1963) - Raksha, King
Attack Squadron (1963) - Admiral
Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster (1964) - Tsukamoto, Doctor
Blood and Diamonds (1964)
Brand of Evil (1964) - Tsukamoto, Manager
Kwaidan (1964) - Head Priest
Red Beard (1965) - Tokubei Izumiya
The Retreat From Kiska (1965) - Military Command President
Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965) - Axis Scientist
Samurai Assassin (1965) - Narihisa Ichijo
Night in Bangkok (1965)
Judo Saga (1965) - Mishima
Japan's Longest Day (1967) - Shimomura, Information Chief
Festival of Gion (1968) - Kakiemon
Tunnel to the Sun (1968) - Ashimura
Samurai Banners (1969) - Toramasa
The Militarists (1970) - Editor
Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)
Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974) - Doctor
The Human Revolution Continues (1976)
Love and Faith (1978) - Sen Rikyu
An Ocean to Cross (1980)
Kagemusha (1980) - Gyobu Taguchi
Bye-Bye Jupiter (1984) - Tsukamoto, Doctor (stock footage)