Kill Bill star Sonny Chiba dies from COVID-19 complications at age 82

Martial arts legend Shinichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba passed away, age 82, from COVID-19 complications at a hospital in Kimitsu on Thursday.

American audiences knew the Japanese legend – who was reportedly not vaccinated – best from his roles in films like Kill Bill and The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was a huge fan of Chiba’s – even referencing his work through Christian Slater’s character Clarence Worley in his 1993 film True Romance.  

RIP: Martial arts legend Shinichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba passed away, age 82, from COVID-19 complications at a hospital in Kimitsu on Thursday (pictured in 2003)

However, Sonny’s acting career in his native Japan dates as far back as 1960 with some 209 credits in film and television.

Chiba (born Sadaho Maeda) impressively held black belts in ninjutsu, shorinji kempo, judo, kendo, and goju-ryu karate.

He is survived by his three children – daughter Juri Manase, son Mackenyu Arata, and son Gordon – through his marriages to Yōko Nogiwa and Tamami Chiba.

Hanzō Hattori: American audiences knew the Japanese legend – who was reportedly not vaccinated – best from his roles in films like Kill Bill and The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift