Biography

Magnus Y. Kimura is Swedish Japanese, born and raised in Uppsala, Sweden. He knew from a very young age what he wanted to be - a fighter pilot or an actor. He has come a long way from that first Stage Moment when he was 7 or 8 years old and he became so shaky that he couldn`t produce his lines on his que. All he could do was to stand and hit his heels together. He wore "Traskor"- wooden clogs -and thus made a good sound, like a good soldier should do; he was an admiral.

Magnus would probably not be where he is today if it were not for his Jr. high class mate and friend, Niklas Lundblad, who was involved with the theater scene in Uppsala. It was the friendship with Niklas that led to his portrayal of Noah Claypole in the musical Oliver Twist, written and directed by Katarina Ehnmark, music by Anders Bragsjo, and it led to the extra parts in the Uppsala Chronicles and the Gamla (Old) Uppsala Chronices, also directed by Katarina Ehnmark. Magnus worked with Katarina in three more musicals, among those Annie Get Your Gun, in which he was Sitting Bull and doubled as Foster Wilson.

He was away from the stage for quite some time, after having left Sweden for Japan, where he worked part-time as a surveyor and experienced his father`s country. He would do two tours as a surveyor, and then back in Sweden, one year of Hotel and Tourism studies, on whereby undergraduate studies at Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, followed, from which Magnus has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Culture. During his years in Japan and his student years, he was very lucky and fortunate to have the opportunites he got to travel in the world; Hawaii, Sydney, Paris, Manila, Memphis, Noosa, Rennes, Auckland, Calcutta, London, Seattle, Melbourne, Wellington, Bangkok, Penang... and some places in between.

It was in Japan that Magnus for the first time in his life would act in plays using English, and it happened in his first Shakespeareian Experience in The Taming of the Shrew. That combination played tricks with his confidence and two or three weeks before the opening night he was - in his own words - "scared shitless." However, with the support from the director, the assertive Malcolm Duff, and the cast members Magnus made it with no difficulties, and is thankful for the opportunity Malcolm gave him by casting him as Grumio. It would lead to great people and more plays. Much Ado About Nothing, The Crucible, and Born Yesterday, for instance, all directed by Jerry Rudd, the amazing, little wonder who brings chaos into order and beauty in a play.

When Teatro Alla Scala came to Tokyo with Rigoletto and La Forza Del Destino, Magnus went to the audition for extras for La Forza and, lo and behold, they needed someone who could fence! Magnus was the only one who had fencing experience and landed the role of one of the Austrian Soldiers. The mime he was fencing pushed him off stage and killed him. There was no blood at that moment though, but in Edward III Magnus was covered in dirt and his enemies blood as the Scot Messenger I, with no underwear under his plaid and a big rip in it that displayed his right cheek, to the dismay of the genious director Tim Harris. The production of Edward III in Tokyo was the first time in Japan ever and the 4th production of the play in 300 years or so. It was an amazing experience and a priviledge for Magnus to be in it.

One of Magnus` most recent role was the spaceman Beep in Tokyo Theater for Children`s Jack and the Giant, directed by the hilarious Paul Lucas. It was the second time for Magnus to perform for children, the first being in A Gingerbread Christmas, directed by the gifted Susan Inman, in which Magnus was Hansel. Hansel, Beep and Noah Claypole in Oliver Twist were challenges for Magnus because he had to sing. As some of his friends have bitterly experienced during his unforgettable karaoke skills - and, not to forget, Ring of Fire, his warm-up song during The Crucible - Magnus is not a singer, but with rehearsals and patient, helpful, supporting friends in the cast, Magnus made it safely through the performances.

Magnus likes challenges, and two of the most difficult for him were The Reaper in Time to Reap, directed by the strong Ewa Dahlqvist, and The Man in Minoru Betsuyaku's Little Match Girl, directed by the patient Mari Boyd. The characters were so much older than himself and, except for The Reaper, had many words to say and hard moments to hold the audience captivated and keep their attention. Another difficult role and a good challenge was the one he had in Dracula, directed by Hank Roberts, the magician. After the spaceman Beep, Magnus was very happy to be back on earth as Professor Abraham van Helsing. However, Magnus' dream is to go back up in space again and "boldly go where noone has gone before," in... Star Trek.