**Daisuke Katō** (1911-1975) was a Japanese actor. Celebrated for his prolific career and versatile presence in Japanese cinema, he is primarily remembered as a reliable character actor for acclaimed directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Kenji Mizoguchi.

His film career often saw him portraying rugged figures, soldiers, yakuza, or law enforcement characters, yet with a remarkable emotional range that spanned from the dramatic to the subtly comedic. Among his most iconic collaborations with Kurosawa are the priest in *Rashomon* (1950), Shichirōji in *Seven Samurai* (1954), and Inokichi in *Yojimbo* (1961). For Mizoguchi, he brought to life the unforgettable potter Genjurō in *Ugetsu Monogatari* (1953). His ability to imbue even supporting roles with depth made him an essential figure in classical Japanese cinema.