Simplify the following text for a Grade 9 native English-speaking person.
Original: ToshirÅ Mifune ( Japanese : ä è æ é Mifune ToshirÅ â `` IPA : ( miÉ É ne toÉ iÉ oË ) ) ( 1 April 1920 â `` 24 December 1997 ) was a Japanese actor who was in almost 170 movies .
Simplified: ToshirÅ Mifune ( Mifune ToshirÅ ; April 1 , 1920 â `` December 24 , 1997 ) was a Japanese actor who appeared in almost 170 feature films .