Kill Bill star Sonny Chiba dies from COVID-19 complications at age 82

Martial arts legend Shinichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba passed away, age 82, from COVID-19 complications at a hospital in Kimitsu on Thursday.

American audiences knew the Japanese legend – who was reportedly not vaccinated – best from his roles in films like Kill Bill: Volume 1 and The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was a huge fan of Chiba’s – even referencing his work in his 1995 film Pulp Fiction and 1993 film True Romance. 

Hanzō Hattori: American audiences knew the Japanese legend – who was reportedly not vaccinated – best from his roles in films like Kill Bill: Volume 1 (pictured) and The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift

However, Sonny’s acting career in his native Japan dates as far back as 1960 with some 209 credits in film and television, like The Street Fighter series. 

He delighted in playing the anti-hero as opposed to other martial arts stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to gain international mainstream appeal. 

Chiba (born Sadaho Maeda) impressively held black belts in ninjutsu, shorinji kempo, judo, kendo, and goju-ryu karate.

He is survived by his three children – daughter Juri Manase, son Mackenyu Arata, and son Gordon Maeda – through his marriages to Yōko Nogiwa and Tamami Chiba.

Fans can catch his final acting role as Jou in Ryuji Yamakita’s action drama Bond of Justice: Kizuna, which hits Los Angeles theaters October 1. 

Anti-hero: However, Sonny’s acting career in his native Japan dates as far back as 1960 with some 209 credits in film and television, like The Street Fighter series

Close: Two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Quentin Tarantino (L, pictured in 2007) was a huge fan of Chiba’s – even referencing his work in his 1995 film Pulp Fiction and 1993 film True Romance

Curtain call: Fans can catch his final acting role as Jou in Ryuji Yamakita’s action drama Bond of Justice: Kizuna, which hits Los Angeles theaters October 1