Morishige, Hisaya

Hometown: Hirakata, Osaka prefecture, Japan

Morishige Hisaya (May 4, 1913 - November 10, 2009) was an actor and comedian. Born in Hirakata, Osaka prefecture, Japan, he graduated from what was known under the old education system as Kitano Middle School (now Kitano High School), and subsequently attended Waseda University. He began his career as a stage actor, then became an announcer for NHK, working in Manchuria. He became famous in films first for comedy roles, appearing in many of the famous comedy series, such as the Company President (Shacho) and Station Front (Ekimae) series, produced by Toho. But he also showed his talents in many serious roles as well, appearing in nearly 250 films in his life, in both contemporary (gendaigeki) and jidaigeki roles. He was also famous on stage playing Teyve in the Japanese version of Fiddler on the Roof. He also appeared in television series and specials, and was the first guest on the television talk show Tetsuko's Room in 1975, beginning its ongoing (as of 2006) 31-year run. He was long-time head of the Japan Actors Union. Among many honors, Morishige received the Order of Culture from the Emperor of Japan in 1991.

Morishige Hisaya died of natural causes in a Tokyo hospital at 8:16 A.M. on November 10, 2009, at the age of 96.

(Source: AniDB)