Kishida Shin, a highly distinctive character actor, was discovered by renowned director Kihachi Okamoto, who had a knack for identifying unique faces. Okamoto cast Kishida in his 1968 film "Kiru", marking the beginning of his acting career. However, Kishida's most prominent feature - his striking appearance - led to typecasting, with many roles tailored to his unique looks.
One of his most iconic roles in Japan was as the "Japanese Dracula" in two Toho movies, produced by Fumio Tanaka and directed by Michio Yamamoto. This role cemented his status as a beloved figure in Japanese cinema. In addition to his acting career, Kishida was a passionate fan of fantasy and science fiction, and he also wrote numerous scenarios for these genres.
Kishida's versatility as an actor was showcased in various films, including "Kaetekita Urutoraman" (1971),where he co-starred as a handicapped mechanic, and "Shogun Assassin" (1981),where he played one of the three evil brothers. He also appeared in "Gojira tai Mekagojira" (1974),where he portrayed a mysterious Interpol agent.
Throughout his career, Kishida was highly sought after as both a writer and an actor. Sadly, his life was cut short by lung cancer, which he succumbed to just three days after Christmas in 1982.
