Takeshi in VL, probably well-trod ground but...

[Daniel Cape]

Takashi Shimura was a Japanese film star who appeared in many
kaijueiga (monster films), incl. the first couple Gojira flicks. In
the very first, at least (only one I've seen), he plays Dr. Kyohei
Yamane, a paleonotologist who is sent to an island to investigate a
massive radioactive footprint... heh.

He's also the lead samurai in Seven Samurai and the woodcutter in Rashomon.
Check out his pic here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Takashi-shimura-ikiru.jpg
It instantly fits (replaces) my imagination of VL's Takeshi.