Yoshio Yoda

James Yoshio Yoda (March 31, 1934 – January 13, 2023) was a Japanese-born American actor and businessman who played Takeo Fujiwara in the American television series McHale's Navy.

Early life Yoda was born on March 31, 1934, in Tokyo, Japan, the only son of a family of manufacturers. After Yoda graduated high school, he enrolled at Keio University to study law. During this period, Yoda met Edward Ugast, then general manager in East Asia of 20th Century Fox. Ugast encouraged Yoda to pursue a career in acting. Yoda abandoned his studies and immigrated to the United States, whereupon he enrolled at University of Southern California in August 1958 with aspirations of becoming a film producer. In summer 1961, William White, a USC faculty member, received a call from Joe Pasternak of MGM seeking a young man who could speak English and Japanese. White contacted Yoda, who was then put in touch with MGM's casting office. After a series of interviews, Yoda was cast in the part of Sgt. Roy Tada in The Horizontal Lieutenant. led him to be cast as Imperial Japanese Navy Seaman 3rd Class Fujiwara "Fuji" Takeo Kobiashi in the American television series McHale's Navy. and McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force.

Yoda continued attending school while acting,

Later career After McHale's Navy ended in 1966, Yoda acted in the 1969 segment of Love American Style titled "Love and the Letter." He was associate producer for "The Walking Major", which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1971. where he had become a United States citizen and was active in the Lions Club. From 2012 until his death, Yoda lived in Fullerton, California. In 1965, Yoda headed the panel of judges that chose the Nisei Week Festival Queen at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

Yoda died in Fullerton, California, on January 13, 2023, at the age of 88.