Tetsuya Watari

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

109

Gender

Male

Birthday

1941-12-28

Day of death

2020-08-10 (78 years old)

Place of Birth

Awaji Island, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan

Tetsuya Watari

Biography

He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University. Watari belonged to the karate club at university. He made his screen debut in 1964, in Isamu Kosugi's Abare Kishidō, and received one of the Elan d'or Awards. At Nikkatsu, Watari appeared in such films as Tokyo Drifter and the Outlaw series. Watari was mentored at Nikkatsu by Yujiro Ishihara. When Nikkatsu shifted to focusing on Roman Porno films in the early seventies, Watari was one of many actors who left the studio. Watari was due to play the main role in Kinji Fukasaku’s film Battles Without Honor and Humanity, but because of illness he was not able to appear. In 1974, he was forced to step down from the lead role of Katsu Kaishū in the Taiga drama Katsu Kaishū on NHK, again because of illness, after appearing in only nine episodes. In 1976, Watari won best actor of Blue Ribbon Award for his role in Kinji Fukasaku`s film Yakuza Graveyard. In Japan, Watari is probably still best known for his role as Keisuke Daiomon in the detective series "Seibu Keisatsu" on TV Asahi. He also appeared in the popular detective drama "Taiyō ni Hoero!" as a replacement for Yujiro Ishihara in 1986. Watari became the president of Ishihara Promotion after Yujiro's death in 1987 but in 2011 he resigned due to his declining health. On June 10, 2015 he was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack and underwent surgery. Seven days later it was announced that he was in rehabilitation and would be discharged from hospital in about a month. He had a younger brother, Tsunehiko Watase, who was also an actor. As a singer, Watari is known for his hit song "Kuchinashi no Hana" and he appeared in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1974 and 1993. He died of pneumonia on August 10, 2020, at the age of 78.

Known For

  • AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo

    AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo

  • SMAP×SMAP

    SMAP×SMAP

  • Showdown in Gangland

    Showdown in Gangland

  • Clouds Over the Hill

    Clouds Over the Hill

  • Hideyoshi

    Hideyoshi

  • Brother

    Brother

  • Yoshitsune

    Yoshitsune

  • Theater Of Life

    Theater Of Life

  • Kin chan no Cinema Jack

    Kin chan no Cinema Jack

  • Epic Chushingura

    Epic Chushingura

  • Shura Group Part 3

    Shura Group Part 3

  • Human Revolution II

    Human Revolution II

  • Graveyard of Honor

    Graveyard of Honor

  • Katsu Kaishu

    Katsu Kaishu

  • Big City: Days of Struggle

    Big City: Days of Struggle

  • No Dropping Out: Back to School at 35

    No Dropping Out: Back to School at 35

  • Bloody Journal of the Shinsengumi

    Bloody Journal of the Shinsengumi

  • Yamato

    Yamato

  • Tuna

    Tuna

  • Marusa!!

    Marusa!!

  • Daihyô torishimariyaku deka

    Daihyô torishimariyaku deka

  • The Stormy Man

    The Stormy Man

  • Family: Absence of the Wife, Existence of the Husband

    Family: Absence of the Wife, Existence of the Husband

  • Tokyo Drifter

    Tokyo Drifter

  • Yakuza Wanderer: Villainous Livelihood

    Yakuza Wanderer: Villainous Livelihood

  • Flower of Ice

    Flower of Ice

  • Haguregumo

    Haguregumo

  • Diary of Early Winter Shower

    Diary of Early Winter Shower

  • Conflagration

    Conflagration

  • The Summit of Mt. Fuji

    The Summit of Mt. Fuji

  • Yakuza Graveyard

    Yakuza Graveyard

  • Gion Bayashi

    Gion Bayashi

  • Oishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Rice Shop

    Oishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Rice Shop

  • Goryokaku

    Goryokaku

  • Outlaw: Goro the Assassin

    Outlaw: Goro the Assassin

  • Middle-aged Divorce

    Middle-aged Divorce

  • Savage Wolf Pack

    Savage Wolf Pack

  • Lady Joker

    Lady Joker

  • Stray Dog

    Stray Dog

  • The Human Revolution

    The Human Revolution

  • Velvet Hustler

    Velvet Hustler

  • The Street Lawyers

    The Street Lawyers

  • Wild Cop

    Wild Cop

  • Abduction

    Abduction

  • Outlaw: Heartless

    Outlaw: Heartless

  • Your Life

    Your Life

  • Burning Clouds

    Burning Clouds

  • The Wild Sea

    The Wild Sea

  • Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2

    Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2

  • East China Sea

    East China Sea

  • 浮浪云

    浮浪云

  • Love Eternal

    Love Eternal

  • Outlaw: Black Dagger

    Outlaw: Black Dagger

  • Wild Cop 2

    Wild Cop 2

  • Flower and Dragon

    Flower and Dragon

  • The Cleanup

    The Cleanup

  • Outlaw: Gangster VIP

    Outlaw: Gangster VIP

  • The Fatal Raid

    The Fatal Raid

  • Monument to the Girl's Corps

    Monument to the Girl's Corps

  • It Is a Long Walk

    It Is a Long Walk

  • Night Train to the Stars

    Night Train to the Stars

  • The Earth is Born Again

    The Earth is Born Again

  • Step on the Gas!

    Step on the Gas!

  • Sangokushi: The Yangtze Is Burning!

    Sangokushi: The Yangtze Is Burning!

  • The Code of Man

    The Code of Man

  • The Black Sheep

    The Black Sheep

  • The Blossom and the Sword

    The Blossom and the Sword

  • My Sweetheart

    My Sweetheart

  • Kanto Drifter

    Kanto Drifter

  • The Blazing Continent

    The Blazing Continent

  • Dreams Come True at Night

    Dreams Come True at Night

  • 前科・仮釈放

    前科・仮釈放

  • Law of the Outlaw

    Law of the Outlaw

  • Song of my Life

    Song of my Life

  • The Stars and I Decided...

    The Stars and I Decided...

  • Outlaw: Kill!

    Outlaw: Kill!

  • Villain

    Villain

  • Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms

    Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms

  • Spartan Education

    Spartan Education

  • The Aftermath of War

    The Aftermath of War

  • Kanto Kanbu-kai

    Kanto Kanbu-kai

  • Ruthless Gambler

    Ruthless Gambler

  • The Final Winner?

    The Final Winner?

  • Profile of a Boss' Son

    Profile of a Boss' Son

  • Showdown at Nagasaki

    Showdown at Nagasaki

  • Tokyo Drifter 2: The Sea Is Bright Red as the Color of Love

    Tokyo Drifter 2: The Sea Is Bright Red as the Color of Love

  • The Heart of Hiroshima

    The Heart of Hiroshima

  • Rebellion Reward

    Rebellion Reward

  • Rusty Pendant

    Rusty Pendant

  • やくざ番外地　抹殺

    やくざ番外地　抹殺

  • Exiled to Hell

    Exiled to Hell

  • Seishun no Sabaki

    Seishun no Sabaki

  • Chase That Man

    Chase That Man

  • Clockwork- Goodbye Winter

    Clockwork- Goodbye Winter

  • The Unruly Ronin's Journey

    The Unruly Ronin's Journey

  • Till We Meet Again

    Till We Meet Again

  • Again

    Again

  • スクープ

    スクープ

  • The Swan Elegy

    The Swan Elegy

  • 渡哲也サスペンス 絆

    渡哲也サスペンス 絆

  • Red Glass

    Red Glass

  • Expelled from the Kanto Mob

    Expelled from the Kanto Mob

  • Pay Off Your Debt!

    Pay Off Your Debt!

  • In Tears

    In Tears

  • Challenge at Dawn

    Challenge at Dawn

  • Sword and Flower

    Sword and Flower

  • The Man of Victory

    The Man of Victory

  • Shinkuna umi ga yon deru ze

    Shinkuna umi ga yon deru ze

  • Ex Convict: Sword Storm

    Ex Convict: Sword Storm