Ryo Kase

Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan in November 9th 1974, Ryo Kase grew up in Bellevue, Washington until he was seven, therefore speaks English fluently.

Inspired to become an actor by Tadanobu Asano, Kase joined the boutique agency run by Asano’s father, also home to Rinko Kikuchi. From his role as a young man accused of groping on a train in the Kafkaesque “I Just Didn’t Do It” to his idealistic soldier in Clint Eastwood’s “Letters From Iwo Jima,” Kase is an extremely versatile performer who never seems to hit a false note. Kase plays a key role as a yakuza mobster in Takeshi Kitano’s hotly anticipated return to the crime genre “Outrage.” Kase was so good that Kitano physically applauded his acting on set. Also watch for him in Gus Van Sant’s upcoming film, which we hear may be called “Restless.” —CNNGo.com