is a Japanese actor and narrator affiliated with Aoni Production.
He is most well known for the roles of Akira Fudo in Devilman, Nobita's Teacher in Doraemon, and Cancer Deathmask in Saint Seiya.
Biography Born January 26, 1947 in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, Tanaka loved to perform for people ever since he was a child and always volunteered for roles whenever a play was put on for the school arts festival in third grade. He volunteered to pursue a career as an actor despite having a naturally reserved personality.
After he graduated from the Department of Drama at Tama Art University, he joined the Gekidan Geikyo theater company with his younger brother and engaged in theatrical activities, making his theatrical debut in The Fox, written by .
After the death of the representative of Gekidan Geikyo, Takeshi Aono, Tanaka served as the representative until the theater company disbanded in 2013.
When Tanaka began his acting career, screen actors were considered the true professionals, while voice acting was viewed as a low-tier job. Due to a lack of domestic programming, there was high demand for dubbing, prompting many young actors in their 30s to switch to voice acting. Tanaka, only around 20 at the time, was encouraged to pursue voice work for his ability to produce a child’s voice. He struggled initially but eventually developed a mature voice as he aged.
In 1970, he made his anime debut and first lead role in Akakichi no Eleven voicing the main protagonist Shingo Tamai.
He was previously affiliated with Ezaki Productions and Office Oh.
Filmography Television animation + List of voice performances in television animation Year Title Role(s) Notes Source 1970 Akakichi no Eleven Shingo Tamai Anime voice role debut 1970 Tiger Mask Kentaro Takaoka/Yellow Devil 1972 Devilman Akira Fudo 1973 Cutie Honey Johnny Ep. 19 1976 Dokaben Fumio Ataru, Ohkawa 1977 UFO Robo Grendizer Zuril Junior 1981 Doraemon Teacher Fourth voice 1981 Fang of the Sun Dougram Rocky Andor 1983 Kinnikuman Warsman (First), Jesse Maivia, Mister Khamen 1983 Lightspeed Electroid Albegas Kurohara 1983 Nine 2: Sweetheart Declaration Morio 1986 Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin Kurotora, Hakuro 1986 Saint Seiya Cancer Deathmask, Musca Dio 1987 Transformers: The Headmasters Brainstorm 1987 Hokuto no Ken 2 Jo 1988 Transformers: Super-God Masterforce Lander 1988 Kiteretsu Daihyakka Shintaro 1988 Himitsu no Akko-chan Tetsu 1988 Sakigake!! Otokojuku Rankiryuu (Hikoubou 1989 Transformers: Victory Blue Bacchus 1990 Chibi Maruko-chan Headmaster 1991 Kinnikuman: Scramble for the Throne Prisman 1993 Aoki Densetsu Shoot! Ohmmori 1996 Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo Daidiro Ohara 1999 One Piece Moore, Minister of the Left 2000 Vandread Prime Minister 2004 Koi Kaze Zenzo Saeki 2015 Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold Cancer Deathmask 2016 Tiger Mask W Kentaro Takaoka 2021 Hanma Baki - Son of Ogre Prison Warden
Theatrical animation + List of voice performances in theatrical animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1971 Do It! Yasuji's Pornorama Additional voice 1973 Mazinger Z vs. Devilman Akira Fudo 1974 Mazinger Z vs. The Great General of Darkness Tetsuya Tsurugi 1983 Dougram Rocky 1984 Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld Teacher 1985 The Dagger of Kamui Jackal 1986 Doraemon: Nobita and the Steel Troops Teacher 1987 Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle Demon 1988 Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West Teacher 1989 Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan Teacher 1990 Doraemon: Nobita and the Animal Planet Doctor 1991 Doraemon: Nobita's Dorabian Nights Merchant 1992 Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds Teacher 1993 Doraemon: Nobita and the Tin Labyrinth Teacher 1994 Doraemon: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen Teacher 1995 Doraemon: Nobita's Diary of the Creation of the World Teacher 1995 2112: The Birth of Doraemon Strict Robot Teacher Short film 1996 Doraemon: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-express Curator 1999 Doraemon: Nobita Drifts in the Universe Teacher 1999 Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding Teacher Short film 2000 Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King Teacher 2013 Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Old Kaioushin 2015 Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' Dr. Briefs
Original video animation (OVA) + List of voice performances in original video animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1989 Legend of the Galactic Heroes Hans Eduard Bergengrun 1993 Kamen Rider SD Kamen Rider V3
Tokusatsu + List of performances in tokusatsu Year Title Role Notes Source 1973 Ike! Greenman Demon Lord 1974 Ike! Ushiwaka Kotarou Kotaro Ushikawa 1996 Ultraman Tiga Gobunyu (Vaha) Ep. 19 2000 Mirai Sentai Timeranger Counselor Zektar Ep. 31 2001 Hyakuju Sentai Gaoranger Shrine Bell Org Ep. 4 2001 Kamen Rider Agito Crab Lord/Crustata Palleo Eps. 30-31 2002 Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger Nightmare Ninja Yumebakushi Ep. 11 2004 Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger Tenkaolien Raja Namunan Ep. 35
Video games + List of voice performances in video games Year Title Role Notes Source 2001 Summon Night 2 Frip 2003 Mega Man X: Command Mission Colonel Redips 2006 Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi 2 Ghost 2006 Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix MAX Mister Khamen 2008 Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix 2 Mister Khamen 2011 Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Old Supreme Kai 2013 Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers Cancer Deathmask
Dubbing Live-action + List of dub performances in live-action productions Title Role Notes Source Aliens Private William Hudson (Bill Paxton) 1989 TV Asahi edition An Officer and a Gentleman Della Serra(Tony Plana) Chances Are Richard (Marc McClure) Commando Sully (David Patrick Kelly) 1989 TV Asahi edition Crimson Tide Chief of the Boat Cobb (George Dzundza) 2000 TV Asahi edition JFK Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman) 1994 TV Asahi edition The Monuments Men Pvt. Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban) National Lampoon's Animal House Lawrence "Pinto" Kroger (Tom Hulce) 1983 TV Asahi edition An Officer and a Gentleman Emiliano Della Serra (Tony Plana) 1986 Fuji TV edition The Omega Man Richie (Eric Laneuville) Platoon Francis (Corey Glover) 1989 TV Asahi edition Red Heat Salim (J.W. Smith) Taps Cadet Major Brian Moreland (Timothy Hutton) Time Bandits Vermin (Tiny Ross) Total Recall Benny (Mel Johnson Jr.)
Animation + List of dub performances in animation productions Title Role Notes Source G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Cobra Commander SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron Jake Clawson/Razor Thomas and Friends Duncan, Bulstrode, Byron, The Vicar (Season 3 only), Cyril, Additional voices Seasons 1–7 The Transformers Cobra Commander PB&J Otter Mayor Jeff Peanuts Schroeder Babar Zephir
Japanese Voice-Over Peter Pan's Flight (Pirates Gordon)
References
External links Official agency profile Ryōichi Tanaka at GamePlaza-Haruka Voice Acting Database Ryōichi Tanaka at Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database