Written By Ken Hulsey
Monster movie fans often have fond memories of 200-foot-tall creatures like Godzilla, King Kong, Rodan, Mothra, and Varan stomping on buildings as terrified townspeople flee in terror. However, the unsung hero who brought these iconic monsters to life has rarely received credit - Haruo Nakajima, a Japanese actor who donned the heavy rubber costumes from 1954 to 1972 to portray Toho's most famous movie monsters.
Nakajima started out in the Japanese film industry in the early 1950s as a bit player, often cast as a background extra or on the wrong end of a sword. But his big break came when special effects pioneer Eiji Tsuburaya approached him to perform a risky stunt - being set on fire for the WWII action film "Operation Kamikaze." Nakajima bravely accepted, impressing Tsuburaya and director Ishiro Honda.
A year later, Tsuburaya and Honda needed someone to wear the heavy monster costume made of melted car tires for their new film "Gojira" (Godzilla). Remembering Nakajima's stunt work, they knew exactly who to call. Though Nakajima didn't know what he was getting into, he took the job to keep himself employed.
Nakajima endured wearing the 200-pound costume for the entire grueling "Gojira" shoot, which took place during one of the hottest summers on record in Japan. The production had to shift to a 5pm-5am schedule just to accommodate the costume and lack of air conditioning. As Nakajima put it, "The crew often times said that the shooting schedule was the real Gojira (Monster)."
Nakajima's dedication paid off, as the success of "Gojira" led to numerous sequels and special effects-driven films, all of which required his monster-suited talents. He even took on the role of teaching his understudy Katsumi Tezuka how to handle the cumbersome costume for "Godzilla Raids Again." Though Tezuka struggled, Nakajima's work ethic and versatility made him an invaluable, if unsung, hero of the Godzilla legacy.
Over the years, Nakajima's acting roles in monster films continued to grow. He starred in "Rodan," "Varan," and "Mothra," among others. However, the filming process was long, grueling, and extremely dangerous. Nakajima admits he was injured in some way on every single production.
On the set of "Varan," a miniature building exploded underneath Nakajima, seriously hurting him. Despite the severe pain, he refused to go to the hospital, knowing it would mean the crew couldn't get paid for the lost time. Similarly, during "Rodan," a cable snapped while Nakajima was suspended 10 meters up in the monster costume. He came crashing down, but the costume's wings and the water below cushioned his fall. Tsuburaya was relieved to see Nakajima was unharmed, remarking "I'm glad you didn't die."
Not all the roles were so treacherous, though. Nakajima found the part of Moguera in "The Mysterians" to be easy, as the robot suit was light and all he had to do was walk around. However, playing the iconic King Kong in "King Kong Escapes" was extremely challenging due to the awkward, long-armed suit.
Nakajima also enjoyed showcasing his martial arts skills, sparring with fellow actors like Koji Furuhata in "Frankenstein Conquers the World" and Yû Sekida in "War of the Gargantuas." He even took the time to teach the inexperienced Furuhata some acting tips. As Baragon, Nakajima had the unique experience of being pulled by wires to simulate the monster's great leaps.
Despite the immense physical toll, Nakajima's dedication to his craft shone through in every demanding monster role he took on over the years.
Though playing monsters was challenging, Nakajima never complained. He believed it would be foolish to pass up such work - a fact that Tsuburaya playfully reminded him of on several occasions, telling Nakajima "even a fool could do this." Despite playing a vast number of monsters, it was revealed at Monsterpalooza in 2010 that Nakajima did not actually portray two of the monsters he had been credited for - the insect-like Meganeuron from "Rodan" and the giant walrus from "Gorath." When asked about these two roles, Nakajima stated he never played them, despite documentation indicating otherwise.
Nakajima is not the only actor to have played Godzilla, but his groundbreaking work in the early days of Toho monster movies set a standard by which all other suit actors would be measured. He breathed life into the "King of the Monsters" and his monstrous brethren, helping to establish them as worldwide cinema icons. Nakajima's tireless efforts have brought great joy to movie fans around the world. It is only fitting that this unsung hero of the silver screen receive the recognition and praise he so deserves.
Nakajima also enjoyed showcasing his martial arts skills, sparring with fellow actors like Koji Furuhata in "Frankenstein Conquers the World" and Yû Sekida in "War of the Gargantuas." He even took the time to teach the inexperienced Furuhata some acting tips. As Baragon, Nakajima had the unique experience of being pulled by wires to simulate the monster's great leaps.
Despite the immense physical toll, Nakajima's dedication to his craft shone through in every demanding monster role he took on over the years.
Though playing monsters was challenging, Nakajima never complained. He believed it would be foolish to pass up such work - a fact that Tsuburaya playfully reminded him of on several occasions, telling Nakajima "even a fool could do this." Despite playing a vast number of monsters, it was revealed at Monsterpalooza in 2010 that Nakajima did not actually portray two of the monsters he had been credited for - the insect-like Meganeuron from "Rodan" and the giant walrus from "Gorath." When asked about these two roles, Nakajima stated he never played them, despite documentation indicating otherwise.
Nakajima is not the only actor to have played Godzilla, but his groundbreaking work in the early days of Toho monster movies set a standard by which all other suit actors would be measured. He breathed life into the "King of the Monsters" and his monstrous brethren, helping to establish them as worldwide cinema icons. Nakajima's tireless efforts have brought great joy to movie fans around the world. It is only fitting that this unsung hero of the silver screen receive the recognition and praise he so deserves.
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