Toshiyuki “Harold” Sakata (July 1, 1920 – July 29, 1982) was a Japanese American film actor most famous for his role as the villain Oddjob in the James Bond film Goldfinger.

Harold Sakata as Oddjob in ‘Goldfinger’.

Sakata was born in Holualoa, Hawaii, of Japanese descent; when he moved to mainland America he began to go by the more Western name “Harold.” At the age of eighteen, he only weighed 51 kg at a height of 5ft 8in. Wanting to “look as good as the other guys”, he started lifting weights. He spent his early life training as a weightlifter and won a silver medal for United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, lifting a total of 380 Kg in the Light Heavyweight division. He also did a stint as a professional wrestler under the name Tosh Togo from the early 1950s until the early 1960s. Sakata introduced the legendary Rikidozan (who eventually became known as the “Father of Puroresu”) into the world of professional wrestling.

Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli took notice of Sakata because his heavy build – he stood 6ft 1in and weighed 129 kg, which when coupled with his intimidating gaze made him the perfect choice for the part of Oddjob. He had no acting background at all besides pro wrestling, but the character was mute and required little theatrical skill.

Before Sakata had secured the role of Oddjob, another former wrestler, British actor Milton Reid had auditioned for the role. In 1964 he challenged Sakata to a wrestling contest and whoever was the winner would get the role. But since Reid had already featured in Dr No and his character killed off, the producers decided to go with Sakata and the wrestling match did not take place eventually.

As Oddjob, he was bodyguard to Bond villain Auric Goldfinger and his sharpened, steel-brimmed bowler hat became a famous and much-parodied trademark of the Bond series. He appeared in several other films in similar roles and took on Oddjob as a middle name.