User blog:ARTaylor/RIP Denis Akiyama

Actor Denis Akiyama has passed away following a battle with cancer. He was sixty-six years old. His son, Kintaro, said of his passing, "He went peacefully into the light on the morning of the full moon." Survivors also include his wife Danielle, daughter Miya, and brother Barry.



Akiyama came to fame in live action as the yakuza assassin Shinji of Johnny Mnemonic and as the creator of Pac-Man, Toru Iwatani, in Pixels. In theater, he was part of Miss Saigon on Broadway, Song for a Nisei Fisherman, Road, and The Tiger of Malaya. He was known as the voice of Malachite on the original Sailor Moon. Marvel fans would know him as the voice of Sunfire, Silver Samurai, and Iceman on X-Men, the original voice of Uatu on Silver Surfer, and Dr. Chris Johnson on The Avengers: United They Stand.

In a 2013 interview, he said of his work, "Since we only have one life, and I chose to be true to my talents, it was a very serious moment for me. I always knew I had a purpose; I had to really be courageous. I just wanted to do the work. I wasn't concerned about fame; and, I knew my Japaneseness was going to influence the outcome."

Kintaro said of his father's life, "My dad was an actor and consequently a relentless entertainer. He shared his love and guidance with the world, which had a lasting impact on me throughout my formative years. I was lucky enough to work with him professionally on a picture, Eloise at the Plaza, in which we played a father and son. That film eternalized a wonderful and magical bond that was both real and fictionalized. His grace and wisdom will remain and continue to guide me and the rest of the world through life."