Actor Haruo Nakajima, best known for playing Godzilla in twelve films from 1954 to 1972, has died aged 88.
His death was confirmed by the Japanese film company Toho but a statement has not been released.
Nakajima first starred as the iconic monster in 1954's Godzilla directed by Ishiro Honda. That same year he also starred in Akira Kurosawa's critically-acclaimed and highly-influential Seven Samurai.
RIP Haruo Nakajima, the classic #Godzilla suit actor. He was 88. #中島春雄 pic.twitter.com/Yx0PjmBvLw
— Patrick Macias (@Patrick_Macias) August 7, 2017
The actor, who is known as "Mr. Godzilla" in Japan, wore the Godzilla suit for twelve films. Nakajima said his Godzilla costume was created from concrete and weighed approximately 100 kilos.
He said he had little direction on how to portray the monster, and did his own research by studying animals in Toyko Zoo.
"My biggest influence came from bears, the way bears move is very interesting," he said in a 2008 documentary about playing the monster.
The actor played monsters in other films including Ishiro Honda's Mothra in 1961 and King Kong in 1967’s King Kong Escapes.
Nakajima also had roles in the Japanese films War of the Gargantuan, Frankenstein Conquers the World, and Eagle of the Pacific.
Fans of the actor have paid tribute to him on Twitter.
Such a devastating loss to the genre and the fandom. Rest in peace, Haruo Nakajima (1929 - 2017) pic.twitter.com/MbE35j9toS
— Kaijucast (@kaijucast) August 7, 2017
R.I.P. Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla suit actor for 12 consecutive films. Sad to hear, an era has passed. pic.twitter.com/FOQk5wfL3j
— cinemassacre (@cinemassacre) August 7, 2017
RIP Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla. Here's a tribute I drew a few years back... pic.twitter.com/i5hIrwcux2
— Tim Doyle (@NakatomiTim) August 7, 2017
Seeing news of Haruo Nakajima's passing. He will live on in his films and to those he inspired. RIP to the original Godzilla. #ゴジラ pic.twitter.com/OGrpQ1Udn7
— Jay Hawkinson (@sleestakk) August 7, 2017
The great kaiju performers used to faint & nearly drown in their own sweat inside their suits to entertain us. Haruo Nakajima was King. pic.twitter.com/cadMEqEEMm
— Minovsky (@MinovskyArticle) August 7, 2017
Very sad to learn of the death of Kaiju legend Haruo Nakajima; the original Godzilla suit actor. pic.twitter.com/QAkEVuGKD9
— Laserdisc Turtle (@LaserDiscTurtle) August 7, 2017
So i just found out that Haruo Nakajima had just passed away... RIP to an icon, a legend. Thanks for the memories. pic.twitter.com/Ug2L5ruzXT
— Cerberus (@KaijuCerberus) August 7, 2017
These are only a few of the fantastic performances from the irreplaceable Haruo Nakajima. Thank you for making our lives brighter. pic.twitter.com/wLaxDVKPp8
— Cosma (@cosmavoid) August 7, 2017
Sad to hear Haruo Nakajima passed away. He was a large part of a lot of childhoods. #Godzilla
— Rob Dimension (@RobDimension) August 7, 2017
