Tsuru Aoki

Acting

Tsuru Aoki

Born September 9, 1892 · Tokyo, Empire of Japan [now Tokyo, Japan]

Died October 18, 1961 · aged 69

From Wikipedia Tsuru Aoki (September 9, 1892 – October 18, 1961) was a popular Japanese stage and screen actress whose career was most prolific during the silent film era of the 1910s through the 1920s. Aoki may have been the first Asian actress to garner top-billing in American motion pictures.

Known For

The BattleThe Battle · 1923
The Battle
★ 10.01923
Movie
Alien SoulsAlien Souls · 1916
Alien Souls
1916
MovieDrama
A Japanese maiden is pursued by an unscrupulous American young man who falsely believes her to have great riches.
His BirthrightHis Birthright · 1918
His Birthright
★ 6.21918
MovieDrama
Yukio is illegal in the United States and is used by a gang of spies for their plans. Yukio must steal secret documents from an admiral. When he's submitting the documents to the gang, he realizes what he has done and claims the documents back. A struggle follows.
The Wrath of the GodsThe Wrath of the Gods · 1914
The Wrath of the Gods
★ 6.21914
MovieRomanceDrama
An American sailor falls in love with a fisherman's daughter and convinces her that Jesus is more powerful than the gods who have cursed her.
The Honorable FriendThe Honorable Friend · 1916
The Honorable Friend
1916
MovieDrama
Makino works for Kayosho, a Japanese curio dealer in America. To reward Makino's dedication, Kayosho sends for Toki-ye, a picture bride. Upon arrival, she is married to Makino in a civil ceremony. However, Kayosho intends to keep Toki-ye for himself. This angers Goto, another employee. Kayosho was betrothed to Goto's niece, Hana. One day Kayosho is found dead in a pool.
O Mimi sanO Mimi san · 1914
O Mimi san
1914
MovieDrama
A silent melodrama from the very first series of American films to use a Japanese cast. The scenes of the story are laid in Japan during the last revolution in the late '60's.
Five Days to LiveFive Days to Live · 1922
Five Days to Live
★ 9.01922
MovieDrama
Tai Leung, a young man who dreams of love and carves ivory images, falls in love with the pretty Kao Ai. Her cruel foster father owns a restaurant where she works, and he overworks and mistreats her. She blossoms when she meets Tai Leung, who is determined to rescue her from her hard life. Her foster father agrees to let her go, but only if Tai pays him a large sum of money. Desperate for money, Tai learns of a condemned pirate, "The Wolf," who has been sentenced to hang and will pay a lot of money for a substitute, and Tai agrees to take The Wolf's place on the gallows to ensure Ko Ai's happiness. However, things don't work out quite the way Tai planned.
The Curse of IkuThe Curse of Iku · 1918
The Curse of Iku
1918
MovieDrama
American sailor Allan Carroll, an American sailor, is shipwrecked of the coast of Japan in the 19th century. He makes it to shore and is rescued by kind Yori. The local ruler, Prince Iku, has ordered that all foreigners who are "trespassing" on Japanese soil should be killed. He hears about a foreign sailor who washed ashore and has been hidden by villagers, so he sends his sister Omi San to investigate. She finds Alan, and instead of turning him in to be executed, she falls in love with him. Prince Iku captures both Allan and Yori and intends to execute both of them. Complications ensue.

Filmography

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The TyphoonThe Typhoon · 1914
The Typhoon
1914
MovieDrama
Tokoramo, a Japanese diplomat on a mission to Paris, begins a love affair with Helene, a chorus girl, who subsequently rejects her American fiancé, Richard Bernisky. When the Japanese discover the affair, they try to force Tokoramo to end it, but Helene refuses to stop visiting him. One night, during one of her visits, Bernisky comes to Tokoramo's apartment and, while Helene hides, rebukes her to her lover. After Bernisky leaves, Tokoramo orders Helene out, but when he realizes his love for her, he calls her back. Suddenly, she rejects and insults him to the point that he strangles her. Tokoramo wants to confess his crime, but he must complete his work, and so his countrymen sacrifice a boy, Hironari, who pleads guilty to the murder and eventually is guillotined. In the end, Tokoramo also dies and his colleagues burn his valuable papers in order to protect Japan. -From the TCM.com Database, powered by the AFI.