Tsuru Aoki

was a Japanese stage and screen actress whose career was most prolific in the United States 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.

Life and career Born in Tokyo, Aoki came to California in 1899 with her uncle, Otojirō Kawakami, his geisha wife, Kawakami Sadayakko, and Otojirō's troupe of actors. At their first stop in San Francisco, Tsuru performed with the troupe and assisted Sadayakko at a Palace Hotel tea ceremony where attendees raved over her "diminutive daintiness." But when the troupe ran into severe financial difficulties, Otojirō made arrangements to have Tsuru adopted by Toshio Aoki, a sketch artist for a local newspaper. Tsuru Aoki started taking lessons in ballet dance in New York City, when she went along with her uncle Toshio, who was hired by David Belasco for The Darling of the Gods. After Toshio's death a reporter looked after Aoki. Aoki began her acting career after returning to Los Angeles and performing in stage productions in the city's Japanese Theatre where she was noticed by film producer Thomas Ince who placed the young actress under contract. She was also responsible for recruiting Japanese actors for Imperial Japanese Company, a subsidiary of New York Motion Picture Corporation.

Death Tsuru Aoki died in Tokyo, Japan, on October 18, 1961, of acute peritonitis at the age of 69.

Filmography TitleYearRoleNotes The Oath of Tsuru San 1913 Tsuru San Short Lost film O Mimi San 1914 O Mimi San The Courtship of O San O San Short Lost film The Geisha MyoLove's Sacrifice Little Faun Lost film The Wrath of the Gods Toya San A Tragedy of the Orient Kissmoia Short Lost film A Relic of Old Japan Katuma Desert Thieves Owanono Star of the North Star of the North The Curse of Caste Kissmoia The Village 'Neath the SeaLittle Fawn The Death Mask Princess Nona ShortThe Typhoon N/A Nipped San Toy Nakado Short Lost filmThe Vigil Mira Mother of the Shadows Laughing Moon The Last of the Line Girl at Riverside ShortThe Famine 1915 Misao Short Lost filmThe Chinatown Mystery Woo The Beckoning Flame Janira Alien Souls 1916 Yuri Chan Lost film The Honorable Friend Toki-Ye The Soul of Kura San Kura-San Each to His Kind 1917 Princess Nada The Call of the East O'Mitsu – Arai's Sister The Curse of Iku 1918 Omi San The Bravest Way Sat-u His Birthright Saki San Incomplete filmA Heart in Pawn 1919 Sada Lost filmThe Courageous Coward Rei Oaki The Gray Horizon O Haru San The Dragon Painter Ume-Ko Bonds of HonorToku-ko Lost filmLocked Lips 1920 Lotus Blossom A Tokyo Siren Asuti Hishuri The Breath of the Gods Yuki Onda Screen Snapshots 1920–1921 Herself Black Roses 1921 Blossom Lost filmFive Days to Live 1922 Ko Ai Lost filmNight Life in Hollywood Herself Incomplete filmThe Battle 1923 La Marquise Yorisaka Lost filmThe Danger Line 1924 Marquise Yorisaka The Great Prince Shan Nita Sen Yan's Devotion Sen Yan's Wife Hell to Eternity 1960 Mother Une Decasia 2002 Geisha Archive footage