Sakaguchi Yuzaburo was a Japanese actor born in Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. He graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Yame Technical High School.

He grew up not knowing his father, was abandoned by his mother at the age of 4, and was raised by his grandfather.

While in his second year at Fukuoka Prefectural Yame Technical High School, he unknowingly passed the audition for Toei New Face 7th term, which a classmate had applied for on his behalf. However, during the interview, he responded with "after school" when asked about his availability, causing a commotion. Despite expressing that he would be willing to join in the next term, Toei's president at the time decided not to accept him. After graduating from high school, he joined Toei in the 8th term as a New Face.

In 1974, he married Hojo Kikuko, a former actress at Toei, on March 2, but the couple publicly announced their divorce on April 4.

In later years, when he sought other jobs, he changed his stage name to Toru Sakaguchi and worked as a fish market clerk and fortune teller in Kyoto. However, despite his efforts, his acting career declined.

In 1989, at the request of others, he worked as a lecturer and stage director at Nikko Edo Village, and also participated as an attraction in Western Village as Sheriff Red Shadow, inspired by his famous role Akakage. From this experience at Edo Village, he developed an interest in mentoring younger generations. He returned to his hometown, Kurume, and started training young actors at an actor training school for about 10 years.

On the night of July 12, 2003, he suddenly collapsed at his home in Kurume and remained unconscious until the next day, July 13, when he was discovered by his wife and relatives. He passed away at a local hospital due to a brainstem hemorrhage at the age of 61.

(Source: MyDramaList) Edit Biography