R.I.P. JERRY ITO (1927-2007)

[August]

I am sad to relay the bad news (via director Fred Olen Ray):



Eurasian actor and singer Jerry Ito (born Gerald Tamekichi Ito) passed away in his Los Angeles home on July 7, 2007 at 8:00 PM, due to complications of pneumonia, while undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. He is survived by his wife, Sakae.

Mr. Ito was a popular and well-known Master of Ceremonies in the nightclubs and cabarets of post-war Tokyo. Because of his command of Japanese and English, Mr. Ito was tapped for a number of acting roles on stage and screen. His best-remembered--and most beloved--role was that of the vile Clark Nelson, the despicable international treasure-hunter, who snatches the Twin Faeries from Infant Island in Ishiro Honda's MOTHRA (1961).

Mr. Ito's other fantastic film roles included THE MANSTER (shot in the late 1950s, but not released until the early 1960s), a US horror potboiler filmed in Japan, and Shuei Matsubayashi's end-of-the-world thriller, THE LAST WAR (1961). Mr. Ito also appeared in numerous television series over his long career, and he will be greatly missed.

--August Ragone

[Gwangi]

This is truly sad, sad news.

One of the unusual things about Ito’s Clark Nelson character, is that, yes he is quite despicable, but for me, also displayed a certain likeability! You hate and like the guy at the same time, and I credit all of that to Ito’s performance.

I now more and more regret not attending G-Fest 1999, when it was in L.A., and where Ito was one of the special guest.

RIP Jerry

[August]

I was privileged to know Mr. Ito and his wife, first meeting him at G-Fest '99 in Burbank, and then getting to know him and his wife while I was hosting Godzillafest at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco (2004). It was wonderful to see the reunion of Mr. Ito and Mr. Koizumi in the lobby of their hotel—they hugged and shed tears of joy—it was an emotional moment that I was very happy to be a part of.

Dave Chapple, who arranged and sponsored the Japanese guests (Hiroshi Koizumi, Akira Kubo and Tsutomu Kitagawa), found himself suddenly in charge of Mr. Ito (and his lovely wife), who did not want to leave Mr. Koizumi's side. It was very touching—they hadn't seen each other in almost twenty years—and they were very grateful to us for being reunited.

[Xenorama ™]

he was very gracious and signed both a picture for me and Mr. Chris Elam. he will be missed.

[Xenorama ™]

here's a tribute to him-
www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/07/30/jerry-ito-a-swonderful-life/

i think i recognize the emcee there in the hat. good job!

what a great gentleman Jerry was. the more tributes the better.

David