International actor Kill Bill dies of Covid at 82

Japanese actor and martial arts great Sonny Chiba has died at the age of 82 from complications related to Covid.

Chiba was a star in Japan and was best known to Western audiences for his memorable role as the swordsmith in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

He enjoyed an on-screen career spanning five decades, which also included the 1970s Street Fighter trilogy and 2006’s The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.

His agent Timothy Beal said he was “a humble, caring and friendly man”.

Beal told the AFP news agency it was “such tragic news”, adding: “He was a great friend and an awesome client.”

Paying tribute online, Mortal Kombat actor Lewis Tan wrote: “A true action legend. Your films are eternal and your energy an inspiration.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is responsible for the Oscars, also said he was a “legend” who “blended toughness with depth”.