Toshiyuki "Harold" Sakata's powerful physique and intimidating glare took him to success in weight lifting, professional wrestling and, finally, to celebrity in his role as Oddjob in the James Bond movie Goldfinger.
Sakata, of Japanese ancestry, was born in Hawaii. He trained as a bodybuilder, winning the title Mr. Hawaii, and as a weightlifter, winning silver in the 1948 Olympics. He turned to wrestling, first calling himself Mr. Sakata, the Human Tank, then Tosh Togo. The name Togo was borrowed from a famous Japanese admiral.
In his mid 40s, Sakata was chosen to play the role of Oddjob, the near-invincible bodyguard/caddy/ chauffeur/ killer employed by James Bond's villainous nemesis Auric Goldfinger. Oddjob's catchiest way of dispatching his victims was by spinning his steel-brimmed bowler hat like a Frisbee, decapitating the unlucky target.
In the end, of course, Bond gets the better of Oddjob--by electrocution.
Sakata capitalized on his role as Oddjob in cough-medicine ads, and an Oddjob bobble-head doll was marketed, as well. He appeared, fierce looking as ever, in other films and guested on a number of TV shows. Sakata, said to have been kind and gentle in real life, died of cancer in 1982.
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