Akihiro Kitamura
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese actor and director, who appeared in The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
.
for five years. As a filmmaker he studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts
(1997–1999) and at Los Angeles City College
(2001–2004).
In 2008, Kitamura appeared in a number of television roles, including VH1
's New York Goes to Hollywood
and MTV
's From Gs to Gents. He also appeared in NBC
's Heroes
as Tadashi, a Japanese businessman who tries to commit suicide. The role's dialogue was done in Japanese to keep with the character.
In 2010, Kitamura appeared in the controversial IFC Films
horror film The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
.
The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
The Human Centipede is a 2010 Dutch horror film written and directed by Tom Six. The film tells the story of a German doctor who kidnaps three tourists and joins them surgically, mouth to anus, forming a "human centipede". It stars Dieter Laser as the villain, Dr. Heiter, with Ashley C. Williams,...
.
Early life
After moving to the United States at the age of 18, Kitamura studied acting at the Beverly Hills PlayhouseBeverly Hills Playhouse
The Beverly Hills Playhouse is one of the oldest acting schools and theatres in Los Angeles. Located at 254 South Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, United States.-The early years:...
for five years. As a filmmaker he studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts
North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
(1997–1999) and at Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
(2001–2004).
Career
Kitamura's first two feature films, Porno and I'll Be There With You were both written and directed by him. He also starred in both of the films, playing the main characters. Kitamura won the 2006 Outstanding Indie Directorial Debut Award for I'll Be There With You.In 2008, Kitamura appeared in a number of television roles, including VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's New York Goes to Hollywood
New York Goes To Hollywood
New York Goes to Hollywood is a reality VH1 series that consists of eight, 30-minute-episodes. New York Goes to Hollywood premiered on August 4, 2008. This spin-off of the I Love New York series, features Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find an acting job in Hollywood, California...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's From Gs to Gents. He also appeared in NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
as Tadashi, a Japanese businessman who tries to commit suicide. The role's dialogue was done in Japanese to keep with the character.
In 2010, Kitamura appeared in the controversial IFC Films
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
horror film The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
The Human Centipede is a 2010 Dutch horror film written and directed by Tom Six. The film tells the story of a German doctor who kidnaps three tourists and joins them surgically, mouth to anus, forming a "human centipede". It stars Dieter Laser as the villain, Dr. Heiter, with Ashley C. Williams,...
.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Porno | Aki | Film debut |
| 2006 | I'll Be There with You | Aki | Main role |
| 2007 | Blinded by Beauty | Director | (short) |
| 2009 | A Black Lie | Director | (short) |
| 2009 | The Human Centipede (First Sequence) The Human Centipede (First Sequence) The Human Centipede is a 2010 Dutch horror film written and directed by Tom Six. The film tells the story of a German doctor who kidnaps three tourists and joins them surgically, mouth to anus, forming a "human centipede". It stars Dieter Laser as the villain, Dr. Heiter, with Ashley C. Williams,... |
Katsuro | Main role |
| 2011 | Nipples & Palm Trees | Phil | Post production |
Television
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Canoga Park | Aki | The Fashion Show/Haute Cooter |
| 2008 | From G's to Gents From G's to Gents From G's to Gents is an MTV reality television series which features misdirected young men willing to change their lives and become gentlemen. The show is hosted by Fonzworth Bentley, and premiered on MTV on July 15, 2008. The objective of the show is to make the transformation from a roughneck to... |
Businessman | Episode 1.7 |
| 2008 | New York Goes to Hollywood New York Goes To Hollywood New York Goes to Hollywood is a reality VH1 series that consists of eight, 30-minute-episodes. New York Goes to Hollywood premiered on August 4, 2008. This spin-off of the I Love New York series, features Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find an acting job in Hollywood, California... |
Japanese director | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Seikatsu! Hop, Step, Mitsuwa | Director | 19 episodes |
| 2009 | Heroes Heroes (TV series) Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the... |
Tadashi | Chapter Three 'Acceptance' |
| 2010 | Cinetsu! | Himself | 2 episodes |