Harold Sakata
Harold Sakata was an accomplished athlete and actor, best known for his role as Oddjob in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger." Born in Holualoa, Hawaii, in 1929, he began his career as a weightlifter, achieving significant success, including winning a silver medal at the 1948 London Olympic Games. Following his Olympic success, Sakata transitioned into professional wrestling, where he initially portrayed a heroic character before adopting the villainous persona of Tosh Togo. His wrestling career flourished in both the United States and Japan, leading to a breakthrough moment when he was cast as Oddjob, a character that became synonymous with his image.
Sakata's portrayal of Oddjob not only defined his acting career but also contributed to the visibility of Asian Americans in sports and entertainment during a time when such representation was limited. He often faced typecasting due to his iconic role, appearing in various films and television shows afterward. Beyond acting, Sakata's legacy includes the lasting cultural impact of his character, highlighted by the memorable props associated with Oddjob that have garnered significant historical value. His journey from a weightlifter to a Hollywood figure reflects the intertwining of sports and entertainment, showcasing the unique contributions of Asian Americans in these fields.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Harold Sakata
Actor and athlete
- Born: July 1, 1920
- Birthplace: Holualoa, Hawaii
- Died: July 29, 1982
- Place of death: Honolulu, Hawaii
An athlete and actor, Sakata won a silver medal in weight lifting at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, England, and gained notoriety as the professional wrestling villain Tosh Togo. He is best known for his performance as Oddjob, the silent, intimidating, bowler-hat-throwing henchman in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger.
Areas of achievement: Film, sports
Early Life
Harold Toshiyuki Sakata was born in Holualoa, Hawaii, to Risaburo and Matsue Sakata. At age sixteen, he left school to work as a laborer on his parents’ coffee farm and, later, on pineapple and sugar plantations throughout the Hawaiian islands. Sakata eventually settled in Honolulu, where he would spend the majority of his life.
As a young man, Sakata had a very small frame; he stood five feet eight and weighed around 113 pounds. While in Honolulu, he began working out at the local Asian-only YMCA and developed an interest in competitive weight lifting. He competed frequently, placing high in numerous weight-lifting events in Hawaii and on the mainland. In 1944, Sakata joined the US Army, serving in an engineering unit in Hawaii that worked to build roads, runways, and other structures. Because he was stationed close to home, he was able to continue lifting weights during his military service.
After the war, Sakata continued to compete in weight-lifting competitions, setting several Hawaiian records in the process and winning the title of Mr. Hawaii in 1947. He then set his sights on earning a place on the US weight-lifting team for the 1948 Olympic Games in London, England. Sakata placed second at the US Nationals in May 1948 and at the Olympic tryouts two months later, earning a spot on the Olympic team. Sakata went on to win a silver medal in the light-heavyweight division at the London Games.
Life’s Work
Despite his success as a weight lifter, Sakata struggled financially after the Olympics, and his search for a more lucrative profession led him to explore a career in professional wrestling. He began wrestling in 1950 as Mr. Sakata, the Human Tank, a “face” (hero). It was unusual for foreigners and especially Asian Americans to portray heroes in the ring, as promoters frequently played upon lingering racial prejudices and stereotypes to draw crowds. Sakata kept a busy schedule, wrestling in both the United States and Japan. In 1953, Sakata began wrestling as Tosh Togo, a “heel” (villain), at times portrayed as a stereotypical Japanese villain. During his wrestling career, Sakata divided his time between Japan and Hawaii, enjoying a great deal of success in both places.
While wrestling in a televised match in London, Sakata drew the attention of James Bond film producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli, who were impressed by the wrestler’s imposing build and apparent suitability for the role of Oddjob, the mute Korean bodyguard of villain Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) and enemy of Bond (Sean Connery) in the film Goldfinger. Sakata had no acting experience, but his impressive physical presence secured him the part of the menacing henchman, whose deadly, razor-lined bowler hat became an iconic symbol in popular culture. Goldfinger was released in 1964 and became a critical and financial success. The widespread popularity of the film made Oddjob a household name, and Sakata’s performance came to define his acting career.
Sakata continued to pursue acting after Goldfinger, appearing in a variety of films and television programs. Because of his close association with the character of Oddjob, Sakata was often typecast as a menacing henchman in subsequent roles, including a guest appearance on Gilligan’s Island, and was at times credited as Harold “Odd Job” Sakata. In the 1970s, Sakata appeared as Oddjob in a commercial for Vicks Cough Syrup; he later parodied the commercial on the Tonight Show.
Significance
As an early Asian American professional wrestler and one of the first athletes of Asian descent to win an Olympic medal for the United States, Sakata made a significant contribution to the visibility of Asian Americans in sports. The character of Oddjob remained a recognizable and iconic figure long after Sakata’s death; in 1998, the bowler hat worn and thrown by Sakata in Goldfinger was sold for more than ninety thousand dollars at auction.
Bibliography
Niiya, Brian, ed. More Than a Game: Sport in the Japanese American Community. Los Angeles: Japanese Amer. Natl. Museum, 2000. Print. Discusses the role of sports in the Japanese American community, placing Sakata within a greater cultural and social context.
“Sakata, Harold T.” Newsweek 9 Aug. 1982: 68. Print. Memorializes Sakata and discusses his life and career.
Svinth, Joseph R. “Harold Sakata: Olympic Weightlifter and Professional Wrestler.” InYo: The Journal of Alternative Perspectives on the Martial Arts and Sciences. Electronic Journals of Martial Arts and Sciences, Apr. 2001. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. Chronicles Sakata’s career as a weight lifter and wrestler and discusses his experience portraying Oddjob.