Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and producer who is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He directed 30 films in a career spanning 57 years, and his works have had a profound influence on many directors, including Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Lucas. His most famous films include Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Ran.