Original Godzilla actor Haruo Nakajima, who played the movie monster, dies from pneumonia aged 88

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 22:56 EDT, 7 August 2017 | Updated: 15:27 EDT, 8 August 2017

Haruo Nakajima, the actor who played movie monster Godzilla over two decades of Japanese cinema, died at 88.

The Yamagata, Japan native first wore the famed bodysuit of the movie monster in the 1954 film Godzilla, which was released stateside as Godzilla, King of the Monsters.

Nakajima was featured in movies such as Eagle of the Pacific and Seven Samurai prior to landing the career-defining part, for which he had to don a 100-plus pound suit that was made of concrete.

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Gone but not forgotten: Haruo Nakajima, the actor who played movie monster Godzilla over two decades of Japanese cinema, died Monday at 88 

Gone but not forgotten: Haruo Nakajima, the actor who played movie monster Godzilla over two decades of Japanese cinema, died Monday at 88 

Speaking with Great Big Story in March, he revealed that the reason the heavy concrete was used instead of rubber was because of a shortage of the latter stemming from World War II.

'It was so heavy and hot, and with the lighting, it was even hot to touch it,' he told Great Big Story. 'I was sweating all over my face, but I did the best I could.'

He said he visited the zoo in Tokyo to get a feel for how to move around like the monster by observing 'big animals, like elephants and gorillas.'

Memories: The venerated performer was snapped at a 2014 convention in San Francisco 

Memories: The venerated performer was snapped at a 2014 convention in San Francisco 

Historical treasure: Nakajima was snapped next to the heavy outfit he wore in 1965 

Historical treasure: Nakajima was snapped next to the heavy outfit he wore in 1965 

Nakajima subsequently went on to play Godzilla a series of sequels, including 1955's Godzilla Raids Again, 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla, 1954's Mothra vs. Godzilla, 1969's All Monsters Attack and 1972's Godzilla vs. Gigan, his last film in the role. He also worked as a stunt choreographer on many of the franchise films.

In addition to his efforts in the role of Godzilla, Nakajima was featured as King Kong in 1967's King Kong Escapes. Nakajima, a regular on the monster convention circuit, released his memoirs, Monster Life: Haruo Nakajima, the Original Godzilla Actor, in 2010.

'In the end, the Godzilla I played remains on film forever,' he told Great Big Story. 'It remains in people's memory and for that I feel really grateful.' 

Launching pad: Godzilla, King of the Monsters was the first film in the famed Japanese series

Launching pad: Godzilla, King of the Monsters was the first film in the famed Japanese series

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