Denis Akiyama


Denis Van Akiyama was a Canadian actor of stage, film and television, perhaps best known for portraying Shinji in Johnny Mnemonic, and for voicing Silver Samurai / Kenuichio Harada and Sunfire in X-Men, and Malachite in the original English version of Sailor Moon.

Early life and education

Akiyama was born in Toronto, Ontario to a Japanese family. He attained a BA in Psychology from York University, and worked in child care. Akiyama was also a musician who played trumpet with The Parachute Club, and in The Pukka Orchestra. Denis went on to study acting at George Brown College.

Career

;Film
Akiyama started in film, before performing on stage. In 2015, he appeared in the feature film Pixels.
;Television
He was a frequent guest star on Katts and Dog, as well as playing and voicing roles in The Adventures of Tintin animated series, and Mayday.
;Theatre
In the early 1990s, Akiyama's stage performances included Miss Saigon on Broadway and in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Other theatre appearances include Philip Kan Gotanda's Song for a Nisei Fisherman, Sally Han's Naomi's Road, M. J. Kang's Dreams of Blonde & Blue, and Hiro Kanagawa's The Tiger of Malaya.

Death

Akiyama died on June 28, 2018, from a "very rare and aggressive cancer". He and his wife Danielle had two children, Kintaro and Miya. He was 66 years old.

Filmography

Film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985For the RecordMichael Nakashima1 episode
1986Check It OutIto
1987Seeing Things1 episode
1987Diamonds1 episode
1988Friday the 13th: The SeriesHai KwanEpisode: "Tattoo"
1988–1992Rin Tin Tin: K-9 CopRon Nakemura49 episodes. AKA Katts and Dog
1988, 1989Street LegalJonathan Imatsu / Satien Loc2 episodes
1989, 1990T. and T.Ikuta / Mori2 episodes
1990War of the WorldsChin1 episode
1991CounterstrikeLokEpisode: "Night of the Black Moon"
1990Inside StoriesAaron IwataEpisode: "Heartbreak Hoteru"
1992In the Eyes of a StrangerTV movie
1992Top CopsWen Da Yee1 episode
1993Ghost MomYamatoTV movie
1994, 1996Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesLai Tzu / Lai 2 episodes
1995Visitors of the NightStranger #2TV movie
1996Buried SecretsDoctor #1TV movie
1996, 1997F/X: The SeriesDr. Miller / Lambert Chang2 episodes
1997Traders1 episode
1999Killing MoonDr. YamadaTV movie
2000Code Name PhoenixDr. FongTV movie
2000Relic HunterColonel Chang
2000The Last DebateTV Makeup ArtistTV movie
2001The JudgePeter JacobyEpisode: "Part One"
2002Haven't We Met Before?TV movie
2002Odyssey 5Akegi
2002The Brady Bunch in the White HouseHopeful ManTV movie
2003Eloise at the PlazaPrince of KushinTV movie
2004The Cradle Will FallDr. FachitaTV movie
2004H2OKazio IzumiTV miniseries
2004DocJian Wa
2004Kevin Hillas Judge Porter
2005Cool MoneyDistrict AttorneyTV movie
2005MaydayCaptain Masami TakahamaTV documentary. AKA Air Crash Investigation
Episode: "Out of Control"
2006ReGenesisCrown Attorney1 episode
2006A Christmas WeddingAsian Pacific PresidentTV movie
2008Degrassi: The Next GenerationOncologistEpisode: "Death or Glory: Part 2"
2008The SummitPrime Minister of JapanTV miniseries
2008Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the MermaidKyotoTV movie
2009Wild Rosesas Fukuwawa Sr.
2009Warehouse 13Officer Ogawa
2010Being EricaDr. Kotara1 episode
2010MaydayCaptain Chun Byung-inTV documentary. AKA Air Crash Investigation
Episode: "Target Is Destroyed"
2010-2012Wingin' ItMr. Nakamora / Mr. Nakamura
2011She's the MayorMr. Lee13 episodes
2012MaydayCaptain Park Duk-kyuTV documentary. AKA Air Crash Investigation
Episode: "Bad Attitude" / "Stansted Crash"
201512 MonkeysNakano1 episode
2015SuitsMr. Tanaka1 episode
2018TakenSenseiEpisode: "Strelochnik"
2018CarterKoji Yasuda6 episodes

Voice roles

Animation

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Rupert
1991–1992The Adventures of TintinMitsuhirato / Bunji Kuraki / Tharkey3 episodes
1993–1997X-MenDr. Darrel Tanaka / Silver Samurai / Sunfire4 episodes
1993–1997The Busy World of Richard Scarry36 episodes
1994Monster Force13 episodes
1994–1995Wild C.A.T.sDockwell14 episodes
1995Sailor MoonMalachite17 episodes
1995–2001Little Bear27 episodes
1997, 1998DiabolikDirector GraffumEpisode: "Panther Uncaged"
1998Silver SurferWatcher Prime3 episodes
1998, 1999Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the LegendAmycus / Cyclops2 episodes
1999MedabotsMr. Referee52 episodes. English version
1999Power StoneGaluda / Referee7 episodes. English version
1999Avengers: United They StandDr. Chris JohnsonEpisode: "Kang"
1999Ned's NewtGuard / ElfEpisode: "Summer Gone, Summer Not / Sealed with a Newt"
2001BracefaceMr. LingEpisode: "Take That"
2003–2005King42 episodes
2004Franny's FeetSally the tough old catEpisode: "The Lonely Library"
2005Time Warp TrioIeyasu / Honda1 episode
2005–2008Delilah and Julius31 episodes
2005–2009Mr. Meaty8 episodes
2008Toot & PuddleDr. Ha Song5 episodes
2008Chilly Beach: The Canadian PresidentEmperorTV special
2009Super Why!1 episode
2011–2013Scaredy Squirrel13 episodes
2011Justin TimeEmperorEpisode: "Secret Surprise & a Mammoth Mistake"
2017Inspector GadgetHattori-sanEpisode: "Tempest in a Tea Cup / Mr. Security"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Onimusha: WarlordsNobunaga Oda, NarratorEnglish dub
2006Rainbow Six: VegasKan Akahashi
2008Rainbow Six: Vegas 2Kan Akahashi
2011Deus Ex: Human RevolutionTong Si HungCredited as Dennis Akiyama