James Shigeta (1929-2014) was an American actor and singer of Japanese descent, considered a pioneering figure for Asian American performers in Hollywood. He began his career as a singer, achieving considerable success in Japan before establishing himself in American cinema. He is best known for the male lead role of Wang Ta in the musical film *Flower Drum Song* (1961) and for his performance in *The Crimson Kimono* (1959), films in which he played leading romantic roles, a rarity for the time. In later decades, his career continued with memorable roles such as businessman Joseph Takagi in *Die Hard* (1988) and voicing General Li in the Disney animated film *Mulan* (1998). His extensive filmography also includes dozens of appearances in television series. For his work, in 1960 he won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, an honor he shared with three other actors.