The actor, 87, talks about his childhood, the secret to playing a monster – and the epiphanies that changed his life.

While working with directors such as Akira Kurosawa, he drew comparisons to Marlon Brando and Laurence Olivier for his immersive, wide-ranging performances.

The most obvious example was The Robe, which the star called “the bane of my life,” even though it earned him an Academy ...