Heihachirō Ōkawa - Actor Profile

Heihachirō Ōkawa

Acting
Freshness: Jan 13, 2026
50Total Films
7.8 Highest Rated
Born: Sep 9, 1905
Birth Place: Soka, Saitama, Japan

About Heihachirō Ōkawa

Heihachiro Okawa (Japanese: 大川 平八郎 Hepburn: Ōkawa Heihachirō, 9 September 1905 – 27 May 1971), also sometimes credited as Henry Okawa (ヘンリー大川), was a Japanese film actor active from the 1930s to 1971. With hopes of starting a business, he traveled to the United States in 1923 and studied at Columbia University. He also studied at the Paramount Studios acting school and eventually began working in Hollywood, appearing in films by Howard Hawks and William Wellman. He returned to Japan in 1933 and co-starred in the Photo Chemical Laboratories (PCL) film Horoyoi jinsei. He later appeared in foreign films under the name Henry Okawa. He is best known for Moyuru ōzora (1940), Dawn of Freedom (1944) Tokyo File 212 (1951), Floating Clouds (1955) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). (Wikkipedia)

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Heihachirō Ōkawa reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Heihachirō Ōkawa's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 26% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Heihachirō Ōkawa remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Bridge on the River Kwai, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Heihachirō Ōkawa Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Heihachirō Ōkawa's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Heihachirō Ōkawa.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1971 One of Those Things Kawasaki Flop Similar →
1968 Destroy All Monsters Engineer Hit Similar →
1964 Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster Astronomer Hit Similar →
1963 Interpol Code 8 Quyen Hit Similar →
1962 Chûshingura - Hit Similar →
1962 Jūyaku kōho-sei nanbā 1 - Flop Similar →
1961 Marines, Let's Go Yoshida (Hotel Manager) Average Similar →
1961 The Big Wave Yukio's Father Flop Similar →
1958 The Wind Cannot Read Lieutenant Nakamura Average Similar →
1957 The Mysterians Person at Board Meeting Average Similar →
1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai Captain Kanematsu Super Hit Similar →
1955 Three Stripes in the Sun Father Yoshida (as Henry Okawa) Hit Similar →
1955 Floating Clouds - Super Hit Similar →
1954 Ghost Man - Hit Similar →
1954 All of Myself Kadokura Flop Similar →
1953 The Eagle of the Pacific (uncredited) Super Hit Similar →
1952 Geisha Girl - Flop Similar →
1952 A Ripple in a Morning - Average Similar →
1952 Lil's Return from Shanghai Takada Hit Similar →
1951 Dancing Girl Kayama Average Similar →
1951 Tokyo File 212 - Flop Similar →
1944 The Dawn of Freedom Sub Corporal Ikema Ishihara Flop Similar →
1942 Wings of Victory - Average Similar →
1942 Bouquet of the South Seas Harada, pilot Flop Similar →
1942 The Man Who Waited - Flop Similar →
1942 Sky of Hope Okada Flop Similar →
1941 Mother of the Red Hands - Flop Similar →
1941 Shanghai Moon - Flop Similar →
1940 A Sister's Promise Hideo Nogami Flop Similar →
1940 Wedding Day - Flop Similar →
1940 Keshô yuki - Flop Similar →
1940 Hikari to kage (Zenpen) - Flop Similar →
1939 Easy Alley - Flop Similar →
1939 Ichiyo Higuchi - Flop Similar →
1939 Numazu Officer School - Flop Similar →
1939 Blizzard Ronin - Flop Similar →
1938 Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro Matsuzaki Average Similar →
1937 Learn from Experience, Part Two - Average Similar →
1937 Learn from Experience, Part One - Average Similar →
1937 A Woman's Sorrows - Hit Similar →
1936 Morning's Tree-Lined Street Ogawa Hit Similar →
1936 The Road I Travel with You Asaji Amanuma Average Similar →
1936 Brother and Sister - Average Similar →
1935 The Girl in the Rumor Shintaro Average Similar →
1935 Five Men in a Circus Kokichi Flop Similar →
1935 Wife! Be Like a Rose! Seiji (Kimiko's boyfriend) Hit Similar →
1935 Drifting Sankichi Flop Similar →
1935 Three Sisters with Maiden Hearts Aoyama Average Similar →
1934 Romantic and Crazy Count Flop Similar →
1933 Tipsy Life - Flop Similar →

Heihachirō Ōkawa - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Heihachirō Ōkawa?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Heihachirō Ōkawa is "The Bridge on the River Kwai" with a rating of 7.8/10.

How many movies has Heihachirō Ōkawa acted in?

Heihachirō Ōkawa has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Heihachirō Ōkawa?

Other notable films include "Floating Clouds", "The Eagle of the Pacific", and "Chûshingura".