Shizuko Hoshi


Shizuko Hoshi is a Japanese and American actress, theater director, dancer and choreographer. Born in Japan, she is a graduate of Tokyo Women's College and University of Southern California. She was married to actor Mako, the founding artistic director of East West Players in Los Angeles, and worked closely with the Asian-American theatre company from 1965 to 1989.

Career

Shizuko Hoshi arrived in the United States in 1957 and enrolled at the University of Southern California. Hoshi won the US Open women's singles titles in table tennis in 1958 and 1959. She stopped tournament play following her marriage to Mako.
While at East West Players, Hoshi received many awards for performance, directing and choreography, including a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Featured Performance in Wakako Yamauchi's And the Soul Shall Dance, as well as Drama-Logue Awards for Best Director for Hokusai Sketchbooks, Asa ga Kimashita, A Chorus Line and Mishima. Her film credits include Memoirs of a Geisha, Come See the Paradise and M. Butterfly.
She appeared in the indie film, Charlotte Sometimes and narrated the Academy Award-winning Live Action Short Film, Visas and Virtue. She has also appeared on television, in such shows as Chicago Hope and M*A*S*H*. In 1995, Hoshi co-directed the English language premiere of the Japanese comedy The Fall Guy off-Broadway in New York City.

Personal life

Hoshi was married to Mako until his death in 2006. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972, 1973The [Bob Newhart Show]Hostess/The Waitress2 episodes
1974Fer-de-lanceSuan KurodaTV movie
1975Police StoryBin HanEpisode: "Year of the Dragon: Part 2"
1975The Six [Million Dollar Man]Japanese WomanEpisode: "The Wolf Boy"
1977Quincy M.E.Mom KamuraEpisode: Touch of Death
1977Starsky and HutchMrs. HongEpisode: Manchild on the Streets
1978My Husband Is MissingVice ConsulTV movie
1974, 1976, 1979M*A*S*HMrs.Li/Mother/The Mother4 episodes
1982Dangerous CompanyMrs. HikaruTV movie
1983Baby SisterMrs. ChangTV movie
1990Hiroshima: Out of the AshesNurse YamaTV movie
1996Chicago HopeBaby DoctorEpisode: The Parent Rap
1998C-16: FBI