Bin Shimada: Movies & Box Office

Bin Shimada is a veteran Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator whose career has spanned more than four decades, beginning in 1978 and continuing robustly to the present day. Born Satoshi Shimada on November 20, 1954 in the coastal city of Niigata, he entered the entertainment world after graduating from Daito Bunka University and was soon affiliated with Aoni Production, one of Japan’s most prominent talent agencies. Over the years he has become renowned for his deep, resonant voice and his ability to portray both heroic and villainous characters, a versatility that has earned him a place among the most respected seiyū in the industry. His breakthrough role came with the 1985 mecha classic Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, where he voiced the charismatic antagonist Paptimus Scirocco, a performance that remains a touchstone for fans of the genre. Shimada’s talent for embodying larger‑than‑life figures was later showcased in the Dragon Ball franchise, where he originated the iconic Broly in the 1993 film Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan and reprised the role in subsequent movies and the 2018 Dragon Ball Super: Broly, cementing his legacy as the voice behind one of the series’ most powerful warriors. Beyond his landmark roles, Shimada’s extensive filmography includes memorable characters such as Juda in Fist of the North Star, Richard Lancelot in Bismark, and numerous parts in long‑running series like One Piece (Wapol, Foxy), Naruto (Kamikiri), and Sailor Moon (Yuichiro Kumada). He has also lent his voice to Western live‑action dubs, most famously providing the Japanese voice for Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker across the Star Wars saga, and to comedic performances such as Steve Carell’s characters in The 40‑Year‑Old Virgin and Crazy, Stupid, Love. His contributions extend to video games, where he portrays Zack in the Dead or Alive series and Broly in multiple Dragon Ball titles. Married to actress Kyoko Minami, Shimada continues to be a prolific presence in anime, film, and gaming, inspiring new generations of voice talent worldwide.