He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University. Watari belonged to the karate club at university. He made his screen debut in 1964, in Isamu Kosugi's Abare Kishidō, and received one of the Elan d'or Awards. At Nikkatsu, Watari appeared in such films as Tokyo Drifter and the Outlaw series. Watari was mentored at Nikkatsu by Yujiro Ishihara. When Nikkatsu shifted to focusing on Roman Porno films in the early seventies, Watari was one of many actors who left the studio. Watari was due to play the main role in Kinji Fukasaku’s film Battles Without Honor and Humanity, but because of illness he was not able to appear. In 1974, he was forced to step down from the lead role of Katsu Kaishū in the Taiga drama Katsu Kaishū on NHK, again because of illness, after appearing in only nine episodes. In 1976, Watari won best actor of Blue Ribbon Award for his role in Kinji Fukasaku`s film Yakuza Graveyard. In Japan, Watari is probably still best known for his role as Keisuke Daiomon in the detective series "Seibu Keisatsu" on TV Asahi. He also appeared in the popular detective drama "Taiyō ni Hoero!" as a replacement for Yujiro Ishihara in 1986. Watari became the president of Ishihara Promotion after Yujiro's death in 1987 but in 2011 he resigned due to his declining health. On June 10, 2015 he was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack and underwent surgery. Seven days later it was announced that he was in rehabilitation and would be discharged from hospital in about a month. He had a younger brother, Tsunehiko Watase, who was also an actor. As a singer, Watari is known for his hit song "Kuchinashi no Hana" and he appeared in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1974 and 1993. He died of pneumonia on August 10, 2020, at the age of 78.
91 movies · 25 shows
Villain
2012·0.0
Yamato
2005·5.4
Lady Joker
2004·7.3
Western Police Special
2004·0.0
Shura Group Part 3
2002·0.0
明るいほうへ 明るいほうへ -童謡詩人 金子みすゞ-
2001·0.0
Brother
2000·7.1
It Is a Long Walk
2000·7.5
Diary of Early Winter Shower
1998·7.7
Abduction
1997·8.5
Night Train to the Stars
1996·6.3
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
1993·0.0
Sangokushi: The Yangtze Is Burning!
1993·6.3
Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms
1992·7.2
The Unruly Ronin's Journey
1991·0.0
Goryokaku
1988·0.0
Clockwork- Goodbye Winter
1986·10.0
Again
1984·0.0
Yakuza Graveyard
1976·6.5
Human Revolution II
1976·8.0
Conflagration
1975·7.0
Graveyard of Honor
1975·6.7
Wild Cop 2
1973·6.7
The Blossom and the Sword
1973·7.7
Stray Dog
1973·7.9
The Human Revolution
1973·7.0
Wild Cop
1973·6.5
Flower and Dragon
1973·10.0
Rebellion Reward
1973·0.0
Theater of Life
1972·10.0
Sword and Flower
1972·0.0
Chase That Man
1972·0.0
Law of the Outlaw
1971·9.0
Expelled from the Kanto Mob
1971·0.0
Challenge at Dawn
1971·0.0
Kanto Kanbu-kai
1971·10.0
The Earth is Born Again
1971·0.0
Kanto Drifter
1971·9.0
Step on the Gas!
1970·8.5
Pay Off Your Debt!
1970·9.0
Spartan Education
1970·0.0
Showdown in Gangland
1970·0.0
The Summit of Mt. Fuji
1970·0.0
Profile of a Boss' Son
1970·10.0
The Cleanup
1969·10.0
やくざ番外地 抹殺
1969·0.0
Showdown at Nagasaki
1969·8.0
The Wild Sea
1969·10.0
The Fatal Raid
1969·10.0
Ex Convict: Sword Storm
1969·0.0
Ruthless Gambler
1969·8.0
前科・仮釈放
1969·0.0
Yakuza Wanderer: Villainous Livelihood
1969·9.0
Outlaw: Kill!
1969·6.9
Savage Wolf Pack
1969·6.0
Exiled to Hell
1969·0.0
Outlaw: Black Dagger
1968·6.5
The Blazing Continent
1968·10.0
Outlaw: Goro the Assassin
1968·6.6
East China Sea
1968·10.0
Monument to the Girl's Corps
1968·10.0
The Final Winner?
1968·8.0
Outlaw: Heartless
1968·6.8
Song of my Life
1968·0.0
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
1968·7.0
The Code of Man
1968·7.0
Outlaw: Gangster VIP
1968·6.7
The Aftermath of War
1967·0.0
My Sweetheart
1967·0.0
Velvet Hustler
1967·6.8
The Hurricane Drummer
1967·10.0
Rusty Pendant
1967·0.0
The Debt of Blood
1967·0.0
Burning Clouds
1967·0.0
The Man of Victory
1967·0.0
Dreams Come True at Night
1967·0.0
The Black Sheep
1967·0.0
陽のあたる坂道
1967·10.0
Tokyo Drifter 2: The Sea Is Bright Red as the Color of Love
1966·0.0
The Swan Elegy
1966·0.0
The Stormy Man
1966·9.0
The Heart of Hiroshima
1966·9.0
Your Life
1966·0.0
Love Eternal
1966·0.0
Till We Meet Again
1966·0.0
Red Glass
1966·9.0
Tokyo Drifter
1966·7.1
In Tears
1965·0.0
The Stars and I Decided...
1965·0.0
Shinkuna umi ga yon deru ze
1965·0.0
Seishun no Sabaki
1965·0.0