RIP Mako

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 11:03am

Mako, the Tony-nominated Reciter in the original cast of PACIFIC OVERTURES and an Oscar nominee for THE SAND PEBBLES, passed away yesterday. He also served as Artistic Director of East West Players in Los Angeles.

He will be missed.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 11:09am

Just saw him in a bit part ( I believe ) in Memoirs of A Geisha. I will always remember his performance in The Sand Pebbles

RIP

[devonian.t]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 11:09am

He was a fantastic reciter and a nice guy.

Rest peacefully.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 11:42am

I worked on a movie with him several years ago - great guy and a great actor. He quite effortlessly stole every scene he was in.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:14pm

We loved you Mako! RIP

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:21pm

He was BRILLIANT in The Sand Pebbles!

And I love him on the OBCR of Pacific Overtures.

He will be missed in the LA theatre scene as well. Such a talent and an inspiration to many.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:24pm

Where did you hear this? I just looked him up on the Internet Movie Database. There's no news of his death.

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:28pm

I was told via e-mail this morning by someone who knew him.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:34pm

Tirso, I got the same E-mail. Mako was a great man and a pioneer for all Asian-American actors. I once had the honor of interviewing him for The Sondheim Review, and he was a sheer delight. (In our piece, he made a reference to Stanley Holloway when he meant George Rose, but who was I to argue with Mako?) He was the definitive Reciter of 'Pacific Overtures' and no one will ever say the words 'Nippon, the Floating Kingdom' with the nobility and command that he did. Condolences to his family.
The Sondheim Review: Mako

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 3:19pm

Oh my God. And just yesterday I was reading how he was going to play Splinter in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's so sad to hear about his passing.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 2:44am

I will have to watch my video of "Pacific Overtures" in tribute to him.

"Rest now my friend, Rest now forever, Sleep now the sleep of the angels..."

[pab]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 11:09am

I find it interesting how long it took for press stories of Mako's death to appear.
Mako, 72; Actor Opened Door for Asian Americans

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 12:02pm

Got a chance to see the videotape of the Original Pacific Overtures at the Museum of Radio and Television recently, and he was magnificent in it. May he rest in peace.

[wexy]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 8:04pm

I think "The Sand Pebbles" was one of the first movies that i ever saw.
I did see one of those few previews of "Shimada" with Ellen Burstyn and Ben Gazarra

Rest In Peace.