Yusaku Matsuda, Japanese actor (b. 1949)

Yūsaku Matsuda (松田 優作, Matsuda Yūsaku, September 21, 1949 – November 6, 1989) was a Japanese actor. In Japan, he was best known for roles in action films and a variety of television series in the 1970s as well as a switch to a wider range of roles in the 1980s. His final film appearance was as the villain Sato in Ridley Scott's Black Rain. He died in 1989 at the age of 40.

He is considered one of Japan's most important film actors. Several manga, anime and video game characters are based on him, including Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star, Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop, Aokiji in One Piece, and Jubei Yagyu in Onimusha 2.