Michiko Hirai

Michiko Hirai (平井 道子, ''Hirai Michiko'', September 9, 1935 – July 3, 1984) was a Japanese actress and voice actress from Tokyo. She worked for Theater Echo. She is most known for originating the roles of Sally in ''Sally the Witch'', Starsha in '' Star Blazers'', and Ran in '' Ryu, the Cave Boy''.

Life and Career

She has been active as an NHK exclusive singer since the age of 10. After graduating from Ferris Women's Junior College in Music Department, she was invited by Kazuo Kumakura to join Theater Echo in 1957.

While she was acting for her theater company, she was also active as a voice actress dubbing Faye Dunaway and the role of Sally Yumeno in the TV anime ''Sally the Witch'' among many.

She was married to fellow voice actor Shinji Nakae. She was also a skilled singer and a Mahjong lover

She died at the age of 48 on July 3, 1984 at the Mishima Clinic in Koganei, Tokyo, due to heart failure. Her last works were Mrs Dracula in '' Lupin the 3rd Part III'' which was broadcast 4 days after her death, and the historical drama '' Onna goroshi abura no jigoku'' which was broadcast 2 months after her death.

Notable roles

Anime

*'' Andersen Stories'' as Ming Ming (ep 11-12); Ball (ep 20); Helga (ep. 22-23); Little Mermaid (ep 31-33); Marte (ep 48); Evil Snow Queen (ep 50-51); Anna's Mother (ep 52)
*'' Anne of Green Gables'' as Mrs. Evans
*''Casshan''
*''Devilman'' as Mermaim (ep 13)
*''Galaxy Express 999'' as Queen Metamelina (ep 65)
*'' God Mars'' as Aida
*''Golgo 13'' as Catherine (voice)
*''Himitsu no Akko-chan'' as Shōshō Akatsuka (eps 56, 61)
*''Hoshi no Ko Chobin'' as Sagiri
*'' Kikansha Yaemon D51 no Daibōken'' as Rinrin
*'' Lupin III: Part II'' as Jasmine (ep 85); Melon Ganimard (ep 28)
*'' Lupin III: Part III'' as Mrs Dracula (ep 11)
*'' Lupin the 3rd'' as Ginko Hoshikage (ep 17); Maki / Rie Makita (ep 21); Rie Makita (ep 21)
*'' Mahō no Mako-chan'' as Mama; Tomiko Tomita
*'' München e no Michi''
*'' Nobara no Julie'' as Teresia
*'' Nozomi in the Sun'' as Miki Kōda
*'' The World of Hans Christian Andersen'' as Hans' Mother
*'' Panda no Daibōken'' as Fifi
*'' Reideen the Brave''
*'' Robokko Beeton'' as Nennen
*'' Ryu, the Cave Boy'' as Ran
*''Sally the Witch'' (1966) as Sally
*'' Sasuke'' as Sasuke's Mother
*''Space Battleship Yamato'' as Starsha
*'' Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage'' as Starsha
*'' Star Blazers'' as Starsha
*'' Swiss Family Robinson'' as Anna
*'' Under Sea Boy Marine''
*'' Yōkai Ningen Bem''

Western animation

*''One Hundred and One Dalmatians'' as Cruella de Vil (1981 Dub)
*''Peanuts'' as Lucy Van Pelt
*''Snoopy Come Home'' as Lucy Van Pelt
*''Robin Hood'' as Lady Kluck (Theatrical release version)

Dubbing

*Faye Dunaway
**'' The Arrangement'' (NET Dub)
**'' Oklahoma Crude'' (TBS Dub)
**'' Bonnie and Clyde'' (TV Asahi Dub)
**'' The Thomas Crown Affair'' (TBS Dub)
**'' Three Days of the Condor'' (TV Asahi Dub)
**''The Three Musketeers'' (TV Asahi Dub)
**''The Towering Inferno'' (TV Asahi Dub)
**''Little Big Man'' (TBS Dub)
**'' The Champ'' (TV Asahi Dub)
**''Doc'' (TBS Dub)
**'' The Four Musketeers'' (TV Asahi Dub)
**'' Puzzle of a Downfall Child'' (TBS Dub)
*Marlene Dietrich
**''Destry Rides Again'' (TV Asahi Dub)
*Rita Hayworth
**'' Blood and Sand''
*Judy Garland
**'' A Star Is Born'' (TV Asahi Dub)
*Claire Bloom
**''Alexander the Great'' (NET Dub)
*Ursula Andress
**''Up to His Ears'' (TV Asahi Dub)
*Catherine Deneuve
**'' Mississippi Mermaid''
*'' All Monsters Attack'' as Minira (voice)
*''Golgo 13'' as Catherine (voice)
*'' Kuchû toshi zero zero hachi'' as Oh-hara Tsukiko (voice)

Live action

*''Lone Wolf and Cub'' as Ohatsu (ep 3.14-16)
*'' Onna goroshi abura no jigoku''
*'' Tooi sekkin''

Theme song

*"Itazura no Uta" ''Sally the Witch'' (2nd ending theme)

References

External links

Michiko Hirai
at IMDb
Michiko Hirai
at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

1935 births
1984 deaths
Japanese child actresses
Japanese voice actresses
Lupin the Third
Voice actresses from Tokyo
20th-century Japanese actresses

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