'Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla' Actor Edward Sardey Passes Away at Age 73

Photo © Edward Sardey.

Edward August Sardey, who played United Nations delegate Eric Gould in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994), passed away on March 23, 2021. He was 73.

Mr. Sardey was born on July 24, 1947. Growing up in Mentor, Ohio, he attended Mentor High School before joining the U.S. Navy in 1965, becoming a radioman and a petty officer first class.

Edward Sardey at 19 years old aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61). Photo © Edward Sardey.

His exploits with the Navy took him all over the world, but he chose to settle in the Land of the Rising Sun. After living in Japan for 23 years, he returned to the U.S. and retired to Las Vegas, NV.

Edward Sardey with his sweetheart Tamayo Katsube in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on January 17, 1972. Photo © Edward Sardey.

According to his social media accounts, Mr. Sardey married his wife Tamayo Katsube on September 17, 1971 (which, given the differing date, would indicate that the photo above was apparently taken after they had already been legally married). Tamayo Katsube Sardey was born on November 3, 1932, and passed away on July 3, 2018.

Photo © Edward Sardey.

I was in touch with Mr. Sardey starting around 2010 and sporadically thereafter via Facebook. I'd wanted to interview him about his life and memories of Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, but we were never able to work out a time to do it properly.

Edward Sardey as Santa Claus in an advertisement for Japan Railways that was shot at a hot spring near Mt. Fuji.

In more recent years, he stopped posting to Facebook. I tried reaching out by phone a few times in 2020, but I was never able to get a hold of him.

Edward Sardey and his wife Tamayo at Las Vegas' Flamingo Hotel for his 59th birthday. Photo © Edward Sardey.

The information above comes from Mr. Sardey's social media postings, as well as public records available online. Any additional information and/or corrections would be most welcome. 

I'm grateful for the brief time Mr. Sardey and I were in touch, and I've always enjoyed his small but memorable role in Space Godzilla. Rest in peace.