Jō Odagiri, professionally known as Joe Odagiri (オダギリ ジョー), is a prominent Japanese actor born on February 16, 1976, in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture. Initially aspiring to become a film director, Odagiri moved to the United States and enrolled at California State University, Fresno. However, a mistake in the application process led him into acting classes, setting the stage for his career in performance rather than directing.
He gained widespread recognition for his role as Yusuke Godai, the protagonist of the 2000 tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Kuuga. Since then, Odagiri has built a reputation for choosing unconventional and artistic projects, often in indie or arthouse films, and is known for his eclectic style and reluctance to conform to the mainstream image of a celebrity actor.
