Makio Inoue: Movies & Box Office

Makio Inoue (井上 真樹夫) was a renowned Japanese actor and voice actor whose career spanned over six decades, beginning in 1954 and lasting until his death in 2019. Born Takao Inoue on November 30, 1938 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, he grew up captivated by mobile theater troupes and aspired to the stage from an early age. While still in high school he appeared in television movies, and after graduating he co‑founded an underground‑inspired theater company in the early 1960s. Financial pressures led him to audition for the Japanese dub of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, securing the lead role and marking the start of a prolific voice‑acting journey. Inoue’s breakout anime performance came in 1968 as Mitsuru Hanagata in Star of the Giants, which earned him a reputation for portraying cool, charismatic young men and antagonists. By the 1970s he had become one of Japan’s top three voice actors, establishing a dedicated fan club and attaining idol‑like popularity.

From 1977 onward, Inoue gave voice to Goemon Ishikawa XIII in the Lupin III series, a role he cherished and inhabited for more than three decades until 2011. Simultaneously, he embodied the iconic Captain Harlock from 1978 through the 1990s, solidifying his status as a pillar of classic anime. In the 1980s he shifted focus toward stage work and later embraced Buddhism, even building his own temple in Chiba Prefecture. He continued to lend his distinct voice to characters such as Master Eraqus in the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise. Even in his later years, Inoue remained engaged with fans via social media, launching a YouTube channel in 2019 shortly before his passing on November 29, 2019 from worsening angina pectoris at age 80. His legacy endures through the countless beloved characters he brought to life and the deep respect he earned across the entertainment industry.