Actor Ken Watanabe has been forced to delay his return to The King and I on Broadway, with a rep for the Tony Award- and Oscar-nominated actor confirming he’s battling stomach cancer.
Watanabe, 56, received a Best Supporting Oscar nomination for 2004’s The Last Samurai, and has appeared in such films as Letters From Iwo Jima, Inception and Batman Begins. He made his Broadway debut last year in the revival of iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I.
The Japanese-born actor was due to return to The King and I on March 1 and appear until April 17, but is delaying his return as he is currently in a Japanese hospital recuperating from endoscopic surgery, says Watanabe’s press agent, Craig Bankey.
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“I would like to ask for your understanding that the start of my performance in New York will be a little delayed,”; said Watanabe in a statement.
It isn’t yet known when Watanabe will return to the play.
