James Saito is an American actor of Japanese descent, best known as the original Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and as Dr Chen in the ABC series Eli Stone (2008). Along with film and television, James has worked extensively in theater, including the Broadway productions of The King and I (1997) and David Henry Hwang's Golden Child (1998). Off-Broadway plays include Sarah Ruhl's The Oldest Boy (2014) at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center and Julia Cho's Durango at The Public Theater for which he won an Obie award in 2007. He was born in Los Angeles, California and received a degree in theater at UCLA. James now lives in New York City and studied with Uta Hagen at HB studio. He was in the last group of students who studied with Sanford Meisner on the island of Bequia in the Grenadines and then continued with Mr. Meisner in North Hollywood. He worked with Stella Adler in her scene study and script interpretation classes. James wanted to learn as many styles and techniques of acting because he found that different roles or situations may need a different tool to find the truth or to play it more effectively. So along with these 3 legendary teachers, he also studied with Milton Katselas, Wynn Handman, Peggy Feury, Jose Quintero and Nina Foch.
Facts[edit]
- March 6, 1955 in Los Angeles, California, USA
- He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
- His brother, Bill Saito, was also an actor.
Early Appearances[edit]
- M*A*S*H (TV Series) as South Korean / Park / Korean Soldier
- Communication Breakdown (1981) ... Park
- Dear Comrade (1978) ... Korean Soldier
- Comrades in Arms: Part 2 (1977) ... South Korean
- Comrades in Arms: Part 1 (1977) ... South Korean (uncredited)
- 5 O'Clock Charlie (1973) ... Platoon Leader (uncredited)
- 1981 The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) as Viet Interpreter
- Veteran (1981) ... Viet Interpreter
- 1981 The Two Lives of Carol Letner (TV Movie) as Professor
- 1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series) as Steven Chiu
- The Roller Disco Karate Kaper (1981) ... Steven Chiu
- 1981 Soap (TV Series) as Hiro
- Episode #4.12 (1981) ... Hiro
- 1981 The Waltons (TV Series) as Japanese Sergeant
- The Last Ten Days (1981) ... Japanese Sergeant
- 1980 Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb (TV Movie) as Lieutenant Tatsuo Yamato
- 1980 The Idolmaker as Eddie
- Lou Grant (TV Series) as Steve Nakajima
- Hype (1979) ... Steve Nakajima
- 1978-1979 The Paper Chase (TV Series) as Student #1 / Kai
- The Apprentice (1979) ... Student #1
- Bell's in Love (1978) ... Kai
- 1976-1977 Black Sheep Squadron (TV Series) as Ensign Kira / Third commando
- Divine Wind (1977) ... Ensign Kira
- Up for Grabs (1976) ... Third commando
- 1976 Farewell to Manzanar as Richard Wakatsuki