Danny Kamekona
Danny Kamekona (November 15, 1935 – May 2, 1996) was an American actor.
Danny Kamekona | |
|---|---|
 Kamekona as Sato Toguchi in The Karate Kid Part II | |
| Born | November 5, 1935 |
| Died | May 2, 1996 (aged 60) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–1996 |
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Spouse | Michiko Kamekona |
| Children | 2 |
Television and movie career
Kamekona began his acting career on television, debuting in a 1968 episode of Hawaii Five-O, one of 32 different appearances over 11 years. Other TV appearances included The Brian Keith Show; Sanford and Son; Barnaby Jones; six episodes of Magnum, P.I.; 21 Jump Street; L.A. Law; Walker, Texas Ranger; and his last TV appearance, in 1995's Burke's Law. He appeared as Agawa, employed by Riochi Tanaka in the episode "The Rising Sun Of Death" of the series Miami Vice.
The Karate Kid Part II was Kamekona's debut movie appearance in 1986. Other movie appearances included Black Widow (with Terry O'Quinn), Problem Child (with Michael Richards), Honeymoon in Vegas, and his final movie appearance, 1993's Robot Wars.
Personal appearances
Actor participant in brief training scene re-enactment during PR tour of trilogy (April 23, 1989), besides the Rose Theatre Shakespearian event day, accompanied by many of The Karate Kid Part II cast members, and was a featured character during the tributes to Magnum, P.I.
Death
Kamekona was found dead in his Los Angeles, California, apartment on May 2, 1996, at age 60. He had been dead for several days in his bathroom, according to friends and family members.[1] A heart attack was speculated. However, The exact cause of death was never revealed.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Karate Kid Part II | Sato | |
| 1987 | Black Widow | Detective | |
| 1988 | Aloha Summer | Reverend | |
| 1989 | Collision Course | Oshima | |
| 1989 | Robot Jox | Dr. Matsumoto | |
| 1990 | Problem Child | Mr. Hirohito | |
| 1990 | Come See the Paradise | Mr. Nishikawa | |
| 1991 | Night of the Warrior | Chang | |
| 1991 | Goodbye Paradise | Lt. Nomura | |
| 1992 | Honeymoon in Vegas | Niko | |
| 1993 | Robot Wars | Wa-Lee |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-1980 | Hawaii Five-O | Various characters | 33 episodes |
| 1981-1984 | Magnum, P.I. | Various characters | 6 episodes |
| 1987 | Miami Vice | Agawa | Episode: "The Rising Sun of Death" |
| 1989–1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Lt. Kamalani/Makala | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Yoshi Nakajima | Episode: "Mutinies on the Banzai" |
| 1992 | Santa Barbara | Mr. Taksan | 3 episodes |
| 1993 | Raven | Takuya Makura | Episode: "Playback" |
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Mitsua Usagi | Episode: "A Shadow in the Night" |
| 1993 | Wild Palms | Ushio | Episode: The Floating World" (Uncredited) |
| 1993 | Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Dr. Hasagawa | Episode: "Dino Might (Gomora)" |
| 1994–1995 | Burke's Law | Henry | Regular role; 27 episodes |