, known professionally as , is a Japanese actor best known for his portrayal of the title character in the 1966 series Ultraman. Furuya would later portray the character Amagi in the sequel series Ultraseven. Furuya has also made appearances in Mothra (1961), Gorath (1962), High and Low (1963), Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964), Ultraman Zearth (1996), Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009), and Shin Ultraman (2022).
Life
Furuya was born in Nishiazabu, Minato, Tokyo, the fifth son of a door merchant. When he was young, he often went to watch movies at a nearby temple. After finishing middle school, Furuya studied acting at Toho Geino School. He was inspired by actors Akira Takarada and Yūjirō Ishihara to pursue a career in acting.
In 1960, he entered Toho. His first role in a motion picture was in the 1961 film Mothra. He began his career as a crowd actor for Toho.
At the age of 22, in 1966, Furuya was chosen for the role as a suit actor to portray an alien named Kemur in Ultra Q. His height at , slim body and body type "different from regular Japanese people in the 1960s" are said to have matched with the requirements for the role. At first, he refused to take the role because he was embarrassed to wear the costume, but gave in after being persuaded by the movie staff.
His Japanese-language autobiography, The Man Who Became Ultraman, was published in 2009.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole1961MothraInfant Island dancer1961The Last WarKasagi Maru sailor1962GorathReporter at Antarctic Base1962King Kong vs. GodzillaJSDF correspondent1963High and LowTrain Station employee / Drunk1963AtragonJSDF Soldier1964Tiger Flight Pilot1964Mothra vs. GodzillaPolice Officer1964You Can Succeed, TooTowa Tourism employee1964DogoraJSDF Soldier1964Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster Researcher / Matsumoto Evacuee / Observation Platform Tourist / Police Officer1965Frankenstein Conquers the WorldMan in Okayama Crowd1965The Crazy AdventureWeekly Top Reporter / Guest at Club Sahara / Man at Hotel Meriken1965Invasion of Astro-MonsterXilien1966The War of the GargantuasCoast Guard Official1979UltramanUltraman2008Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 SummitOfficer Takamine2009Mega Monster Battle: Ultra GalaxyInhabitant of the Land of Light2013The IntermissionMember of the cinema audience2014Yanagi2016Kaiju MonoDefense Minister Yukio Kamikura2018The Great Buddha ArrivalKazuyoshi Edamasa2021Nezura 1964Oyaji2022Shin UltramanUltraman (motion capture)
Television YearTitleRole1966Ultra QGuy in Crowd [episode 4] / Kemur Man [episode 19] / Ragon [episode 20] / Hachi [episode 24]1966UltramanUltraman1967UltrasevenAmagi2011Ultra ZoneAkio [episode 12]2024The Tiger and Her WingsTakekichi Wakashima
References
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