Japan's "Clint Eastwood" dies

Actor Ken Takakura, known as "Japan's Clint Eastwood" for his portrayal of tough but principled gangsters, has died at the age of 83.

Takakura, who played alongside U.S. stars such as Tom Selleck, died on November 10 of lymphoma.

The actor got his start in film in 1955 when he dropped into an audition at Toei, one of Japan's biggest film studios, out of curiosity.

He then leapt to fame to become a permanent fixture in the Japanese film industry as the rough and tumble guy.

International audiences fell in love with Takakura in the 1989 police thriller, "Black Rain" with Michael Douglas.