Trivia

In the 1970s, the Koriyama city-native regularly appeared on TV and quickly became a fan favorite due to his vague expression and friendly demeanor. By the end of the decade, he was also known by overseas audiences thanks to the popular series Monkey, an adaptation of the 16th century book Journey to the West (Saiyuki).

He received the Order of the Rising Sun in 2018.

After his mother remarried Nishida was adopted by his aunt and uncle. The latter took him to watch movies on weekends, which inspired the youngster to join a drama club while at elementary school.

He played Pigsy (Cho Hakkai), with Peter Woodthorpe voicing the character in English.

He received the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for Get Up! and Tsuribaka Nisshi 14.

Outside Japan Nishida was best known for his role in the 2008 film The Ramen Girl, as the sensei of American actress Brittany Murphy's character.

Nishida won two Best Actor gongs at the Japanese Academy Awards for The Silk Road and Tsuribaka Nisshi 6.

During high school, he moved to Tokyo to "learn standard Japanese". In 1968, he entered an acting school, and his parents moved to Tokyo to support him.

In his late teens, Nishida moved to Tokyo, where he entered a theater company.

During middle school, he told his parents that he wanted to become an actor and received strong support from his parents.

Nishida was nominated 10 times for a Japanese Academy Award and won twice.

Nishida was hospitalized in 2003 following a heart attack. There have been a number of reports regarding his health in recent years, though he did continue to take on various roles.

Nishida served as president of the Japan Actors Union and vice president of the Japan Academy Film Prize Organization Committee.

Away from acting, he was known as the MC for the popular variety TV show Knight Scoop and for his singing. His most famous song, "Moshimo Piano ga Hiketa Nara," released in 1981, landed him a spot on NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Toshiyuki Nishida was a Japanese actor.