Sonny Chiba (died August 19th, aged 82)

Sonny Chiba is one of the celebrities we’ve lost in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Japanese actor and martial artist became ill with COVID-19 in early August. He was initially treated at home but was hospitalized a few days later when he developed pneumonia. Chiba, who had not been vaccinated, ultimately died from complications of COVID-19 on August 19th. He was 82.
Chiba played the role of Hattori Hanzo in 2003’s Kill Bill: Vol 1 and its 2004’s sequel Kill Bill: Vol 2. He also appeared as Uncle Kamata in 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.