Chris Tashima
Chris Tashima is an award-winning American actor and director. He has starred in numerous independent feature films, most notably as the romantic lead opposite Joan Chen, Allison Sie, Kelly Hu and Autumn Reeser, in Eric Byler's Americanese which won a Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Cast at SXSW. He was awarded Best Actor in a Supporting Role, at the inaugural Love International Film Festival, for his portrayal of Papa Nakaji in Tim Savage's World War II family drama Under the Blood Red Sun produced by Dana Satler Hankins. He portrayed real-life educator/activist Shigeo Yoshida in the 442nd RCT origin story Go For Broke from producer/screenwriter Stacey Hayashi. Most recently, he played the hard-nosed Uncle Bob in the generational family comedy No No Girl from writer/director Paul Daisuke Goodman--for which he received two nominations at the Austin Revolution Film Festival, and he plays Hiro in Brian M. Tang's action/fantasy short Kodama, receiving its world premiere at SXSW 2023.
Tashima received an Academy Award® for directing the dramatic short film Visas and Virtue, a re-telling of the heroic actions of Holocaust rescuer Chiune Sugihara. In addition he co-wrote the screenplay adapting a one-act play by Tim Toyama, and starred as the Humanitarian diplomat Sugihara. He also directed, co-wrote and starred in the WWII Japanese American internment short film Day of Independence which was nominated for a NATAS Northern California Area Emmy®. These two directorial works came from Tashima's own Cedar Grove Productions, an indie entertainment house aiming to "Boldly defy mainstream Hollywood by giving Asian Americans the close-up onscreen."
Acting
Movie
A Nightmare on Elm Street
as Boy in Nancy's English Class (uncredited)
1984
Movie
Lethal Weapon
as Fire Rescue Attendant (uncredited)
1987
Movie
The Karate Kid Part II
as The Rockabilly Club Dancer (uncredited)
1986
TV
The Shield
as Chris Yamamoto (scenes deleted)
2002
Movie
Night of the Creeps
as Extra (uncredited)
1986
Movie
Once Bitten
as Dream Sequence Extra (uncredited)
1985
Movie
The Sure Thing
as Frat Guy at Punch Bowl (uncredited)
1985
TV
Highway to Heaven
as Camper's Dad (uncredited)
1984
TV
The Fall Guy
as Bar Patron (uncredited)
1981
TV
Unsolved Mysteries
as Stunt Coordinator (segment "Brandon Lee")
1988
Movie
The Perfect Weapon
as Bag Man
1991
TV
St. Elsewhere
as Technician (uncredited)
1982
Movie
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
as Club Patron (uncredited)
1984
Movie
Moving Violations
as Parade Extra (uncredited)
1985
Movie
Real Playing Game
as Mr. Chan
2013
Movie
Savage Dawn
as Extra (uncredited)
1985
TV
1st & Ten
as Reporter (uncredited)
1984
Movie
Model Minority
as Ken Tanaka
2012
Movie
Under the Blood-Red Sun
as Papa Nakaji
2014
Movie
Visas and Virtue
as Chiune 'Sempo' Sugihara
1997
TV
Vital Signs
as Surgeon
1997
Movie
Overkill
as Nagumo Jr.
1987
Movie
Killzone
as Crawford's Men
1985
Movie
Scandal Sheet
as (uncredited)
1985
Crew
Movie
Good Morning, Vietnam
Carpenter
1987
Movie
Near Dark
Carpenter
1987
TV
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Carpenter
1986
TV
Independent Lens
Director
1999
Movie
Visas and Virtue
Director
1997
Movie
Liberace: Behind the Music
Carpenter
1988
TV
Fun House
Carpenter
1988
Movie
Barry Manilow: Big Fun on Swing Street
Carpenter
1988
Movie
Day of Independence
Co-Writer
2003
Movie
Investigation of Fear
Writer
1979
Movie
Chisai Samurai
Director
1986