Japanese action movie star Sonny Chiba dies at 82 due to COVID-19

Kyodo -- Aug 20

Japanese actor Shinichi Chiba, known abroad as Sonny Chiba, who dazzled action movie fans in Japan and overseas with karate and other martial arts techniques, died Thursday at a hospital near Tokyo due to pneumonia associated with COVID-19, his office said. He was 82.

Chiba was infected with the novel coronavirus in late July and initially stayed at home. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to a hospital in Chiba Prefecture near the capital on Aug. 8 and received an oxygen supply.

Aug 20 () - アクション俳優として国際的に活躍した千葉真一(本名・前田禎穂)さんが19日午後5時26分、新型コロナウイルスによる肺炎のため、千葉県の病院で死去した。82歳。福岡市出身。