Although he was not Akira Kurosawa's best-known actor ('Toshiro Mifune' had this honor), Shimura appeared in more Kurosawa films than Mifune, totaling 19. However, (especially in later years) many of his characters had smaller, supporting roles.
One of the few actors to reprise a role in the Godzilla (Godzilla (1954)) series. He reprised his role of Doctor Yemane in Godzilla Raids Again (1955) (aka Godzilla's Counterattack or Gigatis: the Fire Monster).
One of the most versatile character actors in the world cinema, he believably played the weak, timid and elderly clerk Watanabe in Ikiru (1952) and then, also believably, two years later played the powerful, tough and skillful samurai Shimada, the leader of the title, in Seven Samurai (1954).