Mako Iwamatsu - Age, Height, Wiki, Bio, Net Worth, and Wife

BLUF: Mako Iwamatsu was a Japanese-American actor who died on July 21, 2006, at age 72, and he stood 5'4" (1.63 m) tall. He is best remembered for his Oscar-nominated role in The Sand Pebbles, his wizard character in the Conan films, and his voice work as Aku in Samurai Jack and Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

Mako co-founded the East West Players, the first Asian American theater company in the United States, and he earned Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Tony Award nominations across a five-decade career.

Quick Facts: 

Who Was Mako Iwamatsu?

You may know him simply as "Mako," the single name he used in almost every acting credit. He was born in Kobe, Japan, and later became one of the most important Japanese American actors of the 20th century.

His career spanned five decades and more than 160 film, TV, and stage productions. He also spent decades fighting for better roles for Asian American performers, both on screen and behind the scenes.

How Old Was Mako Iwamatsu When He Died?

Mako was 72 years old when he died on July 21, 2006. He passed away in Somis, California, after a long battle with esophageal cancer.

He had recorded voice work for the film TMNT just before his death. The film was released in 2007 and dedicated to his memory.

How Tall Was Mako Iwamatsu?

Mako stood 5'4" (1.63 m) tall. This measurement comes from his official industry records and matches figures listed across major film databases.

His height was never a factor discussed in his obituaries or major interviews. His talent and range mattered far more to casting directors than his stature.

Early Life: From Kobe to New York

Mako was born Makoto Iwamatsu on December 10, 1933, in the Higashinada-ku ward of Kobe, Japan. His parents were the noted children's book author-illustrator couple known by their pen names Taro Yashima and Mitsu Yashima.

• In 1939, his parents moved to the United States as political dissidents, leaving young Mako with his grandmother.
• They were not interned during World War II because they lived on the East Coast and worked for the U.S. Office of War Information.
• Mako joined his parents in New York in 1949, at age 15.
• He first studied architecture at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture.
• He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, where he first performed in plays for fellow soldiers.

That military theater experience changed everything. Mako later trained at the Pasadena Playhouse and adopted the name "Mako" because people struggled to pronounce his full name.

Mako's Acting Career: Breakthrough to Broadway

His Oscar-Nominated Breakthrough

Mako's first film credit was an uncredited role in Never So Few (1959). His real breakthrough came in 1966, when he played the engine-room worker Po-Han in The Sand Pebbles.

That performance earned him:

1. An Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor
2. A Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor
3. Lasting recognition as one of the few Asian American actors nominated for a major film award in that era

Building the East West Players

In 1965, Mako and six other actors founded the East West Players in a church basement in Los Angeles. This was the first Asian American theater company in the United States.

He served as artistic director until 1989. Under his leadership, the company staged plays about the Japanese American incarceration to coincide with the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians hearings in 1981.

Broadway and Pacific Overtures

In 1976, Mako originated multiple roles in Stephen Sondheim's musical Pacific Overtures on Broadway. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

He later reprised the role with the East West Players and again at the San Jose Civic Light Opera in 1991.

Mako's Voice-Acting Legacy (2026 Update)

Mako's later career shifted toward voice acting, and this is now the work most searched by younger fans in 2026. Two roles define this legacy:

• Aku in Samurai Jack — the main antagonist across the first four seasons (2001–2004), and again in the 2017 finale using archival audio.
• Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender — voiced for the first two seasons (2005–2006). After his death, Greg Baldwin took over the role for the remaining seasons and in The Legend of Korra.

As of 2026, Avatar: The Last Airbender remains in heavy rotation across streaming platforms, and Iroh consistently ranks among the most searched characters from the series. This keeps Mako's name active in search trends nearly two decades after his death, even though many fans who search his name never saw his earlier film work.

Was Mako Considered for Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid?

Yes, Mako was considered for the role of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984). He turned down the audition process because he was already committed to filming Conan the Destroyer (1984). The role eventually went to Pat Morita, who received an Oscar nomination for it.

Mako's Wife and Family Life

Mako married actress Shizuko Hoshi, who also appeared in episodes of M*A*S*H. The couple had two daughters together, and both daughters became actresses themselves.

By the time of his death, Mako was also survived by three grandchildren. His wife remained his partner until his passing in 2006.

Selected Filmography

Death and Legacy

Mako died on July 21, 2006, in Somis, California, after a long illness with esophageal cancer. He completed his final voice recordings for TMNT only days before he passed away, and the finished film carried a dedication in his memory.

His legacy lives on in several ways:

• A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, placed January 2, 1994, at 7095 Hollywood Blvd.
• The East West Players theater company, which he helped found and still operates in Los Angeles today.
• The character Mako in The Legend of Korra, named in his honor.
• An Avatar: The Last Airbender episode dedicated to him following his death.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old was Mako Iwamatsu when he died?

Mako Iwamatsu died on July 21, 2006, at age 72. He passed away in Somis, California, following a long battle with esophageal cancer. This age is confirmed consistently across Wikipedia, IMDb, and the Densho Encyclopedia.

What was Mako Iwamatsu's real name?

His full birth name was Makoto Iwamatsu. He adopted the shortened stage name "Mako" early in his acting career, because many people found his full name difficult to pronounce. He used this mononym for nearly all of his professional acting credits.

How tall was Mako Iwamatsu?

Mako Iwamatsu stood 5'4" (1.63 m) tall. This figure is documented consistently in official film industry records. His height was never treated as a defining trait by casting directors or critics.

What is Mako Iwamatsu best known for?

Mako is best known for his Oscar-nominated role in The Sand Pebbles, his character Akiro in the Conan films, and his voice roles as Aku in Samurai Jack and Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is also known for co-founding the East West Players theater company. Younger audiences in 2026 primarily recognize him through his animated voice work.

Did Mako Iwamatsu win any major awards?

Mako did not win a competitive Academy Award, Golden Globe, or Tony Award, but he was nominated for all three. His nominations came for The Sand Pebbles (1967) and Pacific Overtures (1976). He did receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

Who replaced Mako Iwamatsu as the voice of Iroh and Aku?

Actor Greg Baldwin replaced Mako as the voice of both Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Aku in Samurai Jack after Mako's death in 2006. Baldwin also voices Iroh in The Legend of Korra. This continuity decision helped both franchises maintain consistent character voices.

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References

1. Wikipedia — Mako (actor) 
2. IMDb — Mako Biography 
3. Densho Encyclopedia — Mako 
4. The New York Times — Mako, 72, Actor Who Extended Asian-American Roles, Dies 
5. Avatar Wiki — Mako Iwamatsu