Hiroshi Tsuburaya

Short Biography

Hiroshi Tsuburaya III (円谷 浩 Tsuburaya Hiroshi III, April 10, 1964 - July 24, 2001) was a veteran Japanese actor. He was the legendary and charismatic grandson of Hiroshi "Eiji" Tsuburaya I, who was also the first creator of the Ultraman Series, and the third son of Hiroshi "Hajime" Tsuburaya II who also became the second creator of the Ultraman Series after his legendary grandfather Eiji Tsuburaya's death on January 25, 1970. Hiroshi was born in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. He has since became most famous and well-known to most tokusatsu series audiences for playing the lead role in Uchuu Keiji Shaider (Space Sheriff Shaider) as Dai Sawamura/Shaider. Hiroshi was told just a few years ago by doctors that he was diagnosed with liver cancer due to alcoholism that he had gradually developed while during over the years of his career and that he only had about 5 more years to live. He was eager and determined to outlive his father, Hajime Tsuburaya, who died at the age of 41. At that time, he was also instructed by the doctors to take it easy. Wishing instead to help new younger actors get into the business and succeed in their careers, he temporarily quit his acting career and then became the manager of Tsuburaya Productions’ talent division. This was the position he held until his passing on July 24, 2001. The last known interview with Hiroshi was in The Space Sheriff’s Compendium, a book written by Mikio Ando and released in around July of 2000, just one year before his untimely death.First Name HiroshiLast Name TsuburayaAge 37 (age at death)Date of Birth April 10, 1964Date of Death July 24, 2001Place of Birth Setagaya, Tokyo, JapanPlace of Death Setagaya, Tokyo, JapanCause of Death Liver CancerHeight 6' (183 cm)Religion Roman CatholicStar Sign AriesChinese Zodiac DragonNationality JapaneseOccupation ActorYears Active 1984–2001