Biography
Born January 26, 1947, in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, Tanaka loved to perform for people ever since he was a child and always volunteered for roles whenever a play was put on for the school arts festival in third grade. He volunteered to pursue a career as an actor despite having a naturally reserved personality.
After he graduated from the Department of Drama at Tama Art University, he joined the Gekidan Geikyo theater company with his younger brother and engaged in theatrical activities, making his theatrical debut in The Fox, written by Yoshiteru Kurokawa [ja].
After the death of the representative of Gekidan Geikyo, Takeshi Aono, Tanaka served as the representative until the theater company disbanded in 2013.
When Tanaka began his acting career, screen actors were considered the true professionals, while voice acting was viewed as a low-tier job. Due to a lack of domestic programming, there was high demand for dubbing, prompting many young actors in their 30s to switch to voice acting. Tanaka, only around 20 at the time, was encouraged to pursue voice work for his ability to produce a child's voice. He struggled initially but eventually developed a mature voice as he aged.
In 1970, he made his anime debut and first lead role in Akakichi no Eleven voicing the main protagonist Shingo Tamai.
He was previously affiliated with Ezaki Productions and Office Oh.
