Minori Terada, Castle in the Sky Colonel Muska actor, passes away at 81

Castle in the Sky voice actor Minori Terada unfortunately passed away at 81 on March 14. His agency, CES Entertainment, released the official statement of his passing on March 23, adding that he succumbed to lung cancer.

“In the early hours of March 14, 2024, Mr. Terada, a member of our company, passed away due to lung cancer at the age of 81. While continuing to work until the end, he never gave up and worked hard to receive treatment with hope,” announced his company.

About Japanese voice actor Minori Terada

Born on November 7, 1942, in Tokyo, the active veteran Japanese voice actor was prominently known in the anime industry. His iconic anime roles include Alien Metron in Ultraman Max and Colonel Muska in Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky.

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During his 60-year-long acting career, he also appeared in the Shinji Somai directorial Sailor Suit and Machine Gun in 1981. Though most remembered for his contributions to the Castle in the Sky film, Terada ironically forgot his attachments to the project because his recording wrapped up in the brief period of two days. Reportedly, he didn't see the finished product either and denied his connection to the movie during a Weekly Women interview.

In yet another interview, he addressed the concept of a “chameleon actor,” implying that he couldn't call any role his own since “the colour of an actor varies depending on the director's image.”

Terada, whose father, Masaaki Terada, was a famous painter, initially aspired to become a newspaper reporter. However, he ultimately entered the Bungakuza Research Institute and made his stage debut as a performer in 1961. In the following year, he made his drama debut.

Winning the Best Actor award at the 23rd Mainichi Film Awards in 1968 for his leading role in The Human Bullet, Terada firmly established his presence in the industry. Additionally, he's dubbed character roles in movies and dramas, including Blade Runner from the '80s, the 1980 Shogun series and even the 1987 Fuji TV edition of the Gandhi biopic.

Rest in peace, Minori Terada.