Professor Toru Tanaka, a behemoth of a man, was often regarded as the prototypical Asian henchman, following in the footsteps of Harold Sakata, boasting incredible strength and mercilessly pummeling anyone foolish enough to cross his path. Born Charles Kalani, this imposing figure had a storied past, having enjoyed a successful wrestling career and serving in the US Armed Forces for over a decade, ultimately rising through the ranks to become a sergeant.
Tanaka's acting career began with a role as a Japanese sumo wrestler on the popular TV series Little House on the Prairie, before transitioning to the big screen, where he made his film debut as a sinister villain in the martial arts film An Eye for an Eye (1981). In this early role, he faced off against the legendary Chuck Norris, only to be dispatched in a spectacular manner, being kicked through a large table.
Throughout his career, Tanaka appeared in a total of 23 films, including two collaborations with Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man (1987) and Last Action Hero (1993). One of his most memorable roles was in The Perfect Weapon (1991),where he clashed with 6th degree Kempo black belt Jeff Speakman, ultimately meeting a fiery demise courtesy of an LPG tank.
Despite his fearsome on-screen persona, Tanaka was, in reality, a kind and generous individual, beloved by those who knew him. Unfortunately, his life was cut short in August 2000, when he passed away from heart failure.
