is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo, Japan. He is the best known dubbing roles for Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Chow Yun-fat, Peter Weller, Tim Allen, Sean Bean, Choi Min-sik, Stringfellow Hawke (Airwolf) and many more. His daughter is actress and he is married to , an actress employed by Haiyuza Theatre Company.
Biography
After graduating from junior college, Isobe joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1972, where he gained experience on stage under director Koreya Senda, mainly in Shakespeare's plays, which were well received. Later, he played the role of Shishiōin, the nemesis of the main character, Kirigakure Saizō, in NHK's drama Fūjin no Mon. Since then, he has played roles in many stage, television, animation, and film productions in both period and contemporary dramas, and left Haiyuza in 1989.
Kramer vs. Kramer was his debut as a voice actor, and he was the main voice of Stringfellow Hawke, the protagonist of Airwolf, as well as Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Chow Yun-fat, Tim Allen, Peter Weller, Bruce Willis, and Sean Bean.
Known for his humble and sincere personality, it is said that when Isobe took on the role of Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, he called Gorō Naya, who dubbed Heston for many years, directly to ask for his forgiveness, when in fact Isobe met Naya in a bar and greeted him. He originally dubbed Heston when he filled in for Naya in the Friday first-run showing of The Naked Jungle, and has since served in three new recordings.
In 2005's Mahō Sentai Magiranger, he was cast as the voice of the enemy leader Wolzard as well as Wolzard's true identity, the Magiranger, father Isamu Ozu. This was the first time for him to be a regular in a tokusatsu series, so when he was offered to play the role of Isamu Ozu unmasked, he was at first puzzled as to whether it was right for him. In the final episode, like the rest of the cast, he is in the suit of Wolzard Fire, the transformed version of his role.
Filmography
Film
The Incident (1978) August Without the Emperor (1978) Yuwakusha (1989), Hiraide Dōten (1991) Yūkai (1997)
Television drama
Mito Kōmon (1975–2011) Genroku Taiheiki (1975), Mōri Koheita Shishi no Jidai (1980) Tōge no Gunzō (1982), Horibe Yasubee Kawaite sōrō (1984) Shadow Warriors IV (1985), Samonji Noro Inochi (1986) Kasuga no Tsubone (1989), Akechi Hidemitsu Onihei Hankachō (1989–1997), Ninzaburo, Katsunosuke and Daigaku Yokota Ōoka Echizen (1990), Bunkichi Tobu ga Gotoku (1990), Matsudaira Shungaku Hachidai Shōgun Yoshimune (1995) Mōri Motonari (1997), Uyama Hisakane Genroku Ryōran (1999), Toda Ujisada Aoi (2000), Ikeda Terumasa Musashi (2003) AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo (2008), Nakamura Atsuhime (2008), Kujo Hisatada Gunshi Kanbei (2014), Ogō Yoshitoshi Toto Neechan (2016)
Television animation
Gungrave (2003), Harry MacDowel
Monster (2004), Inspector Lunge
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (2006), Kurogane's father
Black Lagoon (2006), Dutch
One Outs (2008), Hiromichi Kojima
Blade (2010), Deacon Frost
Jormungand (2012), George Black
Magic Kaito 1412 (2014), Tsūjirō Hasura
Subete ga F ni Naru (2015), Shōsuke Nishinosono
The Kindaichi Case Files R (2016), Susumu Samejima
Original net animation
Thermae Romae Novae (2022), Emperor Hadrian
Theatrical animation
Memories (1995), Heinz
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001), Vincent Volaju
Naruto the Movie: Snow Princess' Book of Ninja Arts (2004), Dotō Kazehana
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood (2007), George Joestar
Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010), Gasback Gallon Getaway
King of Thorn (2010), Ivan Coral Vega
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer (2010), Aeolia Schenberg Mardock Scramble (2010), Dimsdale Boiled Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya (2013), Emmi Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016), Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System (2019), Guillermo Garcia One Piece: Stampede (2019), Douglas Bullet