was a Japanese narrator and voice actor from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. He was the founder of Ōhira Production and was also attached to 81 Produce.
One of his best-known roles was the dub voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars, on the series' home video releases and playing the title character Moguro Fukuzō in the original The Laughing Salesman. He was also known for his many narration roles, most notably in the Super Sentai series.
Overview Ōhira was a very influential figure in the dubbing industry during the Shōwa period.
After graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan University Jōnan Senior High School (in which he was also the supervisor of the school's volleyball team), he went on to graduate from the Meiji University Department of Political Science and Economics. In 1954, he joined the Nippon Broadcasting System, in which he became an announcer and producer. In 1955, with the opening of the Tokyo Broadcasting System, he enlisted in its theatrical company. He left the company in 1958 to become a voice artist.
His breakthrough performance was the dubbing voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. He reprised this role for Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and a crossover appearance in Soulcalibur IV- notable because the game was originally in Japanese, meaning that Ōhira was Vader's "original" voice in the game, unlike with the films. In addition, he was usually cast in either astringent villain roles or gag characters, such as Pete in Disney cartoons.
He was also a close friend of Kyosen Ōhashi, and the mentor of Shirō Yasutomi.
On April 12, 2016, Ōhira died from pneumonia at the age of 86. As his last will, he requested Tesshō Genda to replace him as the voice of Moguro Fukuzō.
Filmography
Television animation Oraa Guzura Dado (1967) (Guzura) The Genie Family (1969) (Hakushon Daimaō) Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972) (Doctor Kozaburo Nambu) Dash Kappei (1981) (Seiichiro) Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman (1983) (Gondo) Osomatsu-kun (1988) (Dekapan) The Laughing Salesman (1989) (Fukuzō Moguro) Steal Napoleon's Dictionary! (1991) (Hēkā) One Piece (2000) (Gaimon) A Little Snow Fairy Sugar (2001) (Luchino) PaRappa the Rapper (2001) (Milk Man episode 20) Basilisk (2005) (Tokugawa Ieyasu) Save Me! Lollipop (2006) (Grandfather) Ojarumaru (2009) (Denbo Shijiyourou)
Theatrical animation The Littlest Warrior (1961) – Mok Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo (1978) – Stuckey Be Forever Yamato (1980) – Führer Skulldard Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Galaxy (1980) – Zoa Doraemon: Nobita and the Winged Braves (2001) – Cyclid Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004) – President
Video games Year Title Role ConsoleSource2001Sakura Taisen 3 ~Pari wa Moeteiru ka?~ Duke Calmar 2001Stupid InvadersGorgious KlatooDreamcast, Microsoft Windows 2002Space Channel 5: Part 2President PeaceDreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Steam, Microsoft Windows 2002Kingdom HeartsMayor of Halloween TownPlayStation 2 2005Kingdom Hearts IIPete, Mayor of Halloween TownPlayStation 2 Soulcalibur IVDarth VaderPlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of HeroesHakushon Daimaō 2009Kingdom Hearts CodedPeteNTT docomo Kingdom Hearts Birth by SleepPetePlayStation Portable 2010Kingdom Hearts Re:codedPeteNintendo DS 2012Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop DistancePete, JuliusNintendo 3DS 2014Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIXPetePlayStation 3 Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (Saint Germain) White Knight Chronicles (Gamarone)
Tokusatsu Ninja Buttai Gekko (1964) as Narrator Spectreman (1971) as Chief Kurata Ambassador Magma (Goa) (body and voice) Spider-Man (1978-1979) as Narrator Super Sentai Series Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (1975-1977) (Narrator) JAKQ Dengekitai (1977) (Narrator) Battle Fever J (Narrator) Denshi Sentai Denziman (Narrator) Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (Narrator) Dai Sentai Goggle Five (Narrator) Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (Narrator) Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (Narrator) Chōriki Sentai Ohranger (Emperor Bacchus Wrath (eps. 1 - 16, 18 - 23, 26, 27, 29 - 31, 33, 34, 39 & 40)) Metal Hero Series Uchuu Keiji Shaider (Narrator) 3 Space Sheriff Special Crossover (Narrator) Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion (Narrator) Jikuu Senshi Spielban (Narrator) Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya (Narrator) Kidou Keiji Jiban (Narrator)
Dubbing roles Live-action Telly Savalas (TV Asahi) Battle of the Bulge Kelly's Heroes Capricorn One A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Teddy) Adventures in Dinosaur City (Big) Adventures of Superman (Superman) Batman (1992 TBS Dub) (The Joker (Jack Nicholson)) Cats & Dogs (Presiding Judge Dog) Coogan's Bluff (Lieutenant McElroy (Lee J. Cobb)) Django (1980 TV Tokyo edition) (Major Jackson (Eduardo Fajardo)) Fantasia 2000 (Quincy Jones) The French Connection (Alain Charnier) French Connection II (Alain Charnier) Master of the Flying Guillotine (Fung Sheng Wu Chi) Mission: Impossible (1999 Fuji TV edition) (The Voice on Tape) The NeverEnding Story (1987 TV Asahi edition) (Rockbiter (Alan Oppenheimer)) Patton (George S. Patton (George C. Scott)) Project A (Governor-general) Some Like It Hot (Agent Mulligan (Pat O'Brien)) Superman (Jor-El (Marlon Brando)) Star Wars series (Darth Vader (James Earl Jones); home video versions), Boss Nass (Brian Blessed)) Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Animation The Flintstones (Fred Flintstone) Monsters, Inc. () (Henry J. Waternoose) The Nightmare Before Christmas (Mayor) Secret Squirrel (Yellow Pinkie) Space Goofs (Gorgious Klatoo) (Danny Mann) The Simpsons (Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta)) Productions for the Walt Disney Company (Pete) A Goofy Movie An Extremely Goofy Movie House of Mouse
References
External links Toru Ohira at Ohira Production (Japanese)