Harold Sakata (1920 - 1982) was a professional bodybuilder and wrestler, turned actor who portrayed Oddjob in Goldfinger.
Following his death, Sakata's likeness would continue to be used in various video games featuring his character of Oddjob, including GoldenEye: Rogue Agent and 007 Legends.
Trivia[]
- Director Guy Hamilton claims that he wanted to cast Sakata as Oddjob after seeing him wrestling in Australia. Although producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli claim that they were the ones who took note of Sakata due to his large build and intimidating gaze.
- During the scene in Goldfinger where Oddjob sneaks behind James Bond in his hotel room and knocks him out with a strike to the back of the neck, Sean Connery claims that Sakata had not yet learnt how to pull his punches, and that he had struck Connery with considerable force, to the point that he caused Connery to have a back injury.
- While filming Oddjob's death scene, where he is electrocuted while holding onto his Razor-Rimmed Hat, Sakata's hands became badly burnt by the sparks, but decided not to stop the filming and continued the scene, despite the pain he was in, noting that director Guy Hamilton had not called cut.
- Sakata his final public appearance at the 54th Academy Awards in 1982, where he appeared in his Oddjob costume. He died just five months later, having been suffering from liver cancer.