Shinichi Chiba known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist.As of 2023 Sonny Chiba Net Worth is $6 million.Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience.
Chiba has appeared in over 125 films for Toei Studios and has received multiple acting awards in Japan. After appearing in the taiga drama Frin Kazan in November 2007, he declared the retirement of his stage name Shinichi Chiba and will now be known (in Japan) as J.J.
Sonny Chiba Bio
| Name | Sonny Chiba |
| Birthdate ( Age) | 22 January 1939 |
| Place of Birth | Fukuoka, Japan |
| Died | 19 August 2021 |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse/Partner | Tamami Chiba (m. 1996–2015), Yōko Nogiwa (m. 1973–1994) |
| Children | Mackenyu, Gordon Maeda, Juri Manase |
| Parents | Name Not Known |
| Education | junior high school in Kimitsu |
| Profession | Japanese actor and martial artist |
| Net Worth | $6 million |
| Last Update | 2023 |
Sonny Chiba Family, Parents
Sonny Chiba was Born on 22 January 1939 in Fukuoka, Japan.He was the third of five children in the family of a military test pilot. When he was four years old, his father was transferred to Kisarazu, Chiba, and the family moved to Kimitsu, Chiba.After Chiba went to junior high school in Kimitsu, the physical education teacher advised him to do artistic gymnastics. He also was passionate about track and field sports, baseball, and volleyball. Chiba went to the Nippon Sport Science University in 1957. He was a serious candidate for a place in the Japanese Olympic team in his late teens until he was sidelined by a back injury
Sonny Chiba Wife
Sonny Chiba previously was Married wife first wife Yōko Nogiwa but they divorced. They have a daughter together name Juri Manase, who is also an actress. He has two sons from his second marriage to Tamami Chiba. Their children Mackenyu Arata and Gordon are actors.His younger brother, Jirō Yabuki (also known as Jiro Chiba), was also an actor.
Sonny Chiba Net Worth
Shinichi Chiba, known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. who has an estimated Net Worth of between $6 million in 2023.
Sonny Chiba Professional Career
His acting career began on television, where he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows, first replacing Susumu Wajima as the main character Ktar Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro kamen) in the second half of the series, and then starring as Gor Narumi/Messenger of Allah in Messenger of Allah (Allah no Shisha). In the 1961 science fiction film Invasion of the Neptune Men, he made his debut and played his first major role.
Later that year, Chiba appeared in the first Kinji Fukasaku film, Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley, marking the beginning of a lengthy collaboration between the two actors. Over the subsequent decade, he mainly appeared in crime thrillers. In 1970, Chiba founded the J.A.C. training centre for aspiring martial arts film actors and stunt performers (Japan Action Club).
In 1974, he appeared in the film Karate Kiba (Bodyguard Kiba), following his 1973 appearance in Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima. Karate Kiba was the first martial arts film he saw. The Street Fighter (1974), which was dubbed in English for Western audiences by New Line Cinema, was Chiba’s first major worldwide success.
The film and its sequels established him as the preeminent Japanese martial arts actor in foreign film for the following two decades. Robert Shaye, the founder of New Line Cinema, gave Chiba the English name “Sonny,” which Chiba would later assume (mostly for non-Japanese projects).
The Bullet Train (1975), Karate Warriors (1976), Doberman Cop (1977), Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977), and The Assassin were among his later film projects (1977). Occasionally, he also returned to the science fiction category with films like Message from Space (1978).
He started to star in jidaigeki as well, including Shogun’s Samurai (1978), The Fall of Ako Castle (1978), G.I. Samurai (1979), Shadow Warriors (1980), and Samurai Reincarnation (1981). (1981). In addition to acting, he coordinated stunts for G.I. Samurai, Burning Courageous (1981), and Shogun’s Shadow (1989). He was the chief producer and director of the 1990 film Yellow Fangs, and he also directed and starred in the film Oyaji (2007).
The first time Chiba played Yagy Jyubei was in the 1978 film Shogun’s Samurai. His subsequent performance as Jyubei was in the 1978 to 1979 television series The Yagyu Conspiracy. His third performance as Jyubei was in the 1980 and 1982 television series Yagy Abaretabi. His last performance as Jyubei was in the 1989 television films Iemitsu to Hikoza to Ishintasuke. Shadow Warriors features Hattori Hanz, one of his other noteworthy television roles.
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Chiba has appeared in over 125 films for Toei Studios and has received multiple acting awards in Japan. After appearing in the taiga drama Frin Kazan in November 2007, he declared the retirement of his stage name Shinichi Chiba and will now be known (in Japan) as J.J.
Sonny Chiba Cause of Death
In August 2021, Chiba became ill with COVID-19 Delta variant. Initially, he was treated at home, but was hospitalized a few days later on 8 August when he developed pneumonia. He died on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82. Chiba had not been vaccinated, according to his agency.
