Takeshi Kitano originally studied to become an engineer, but was thrown out of school for rebellious behavior. He learned comedy, singing and dancing from famed comedian Senzaburô Fukami. Working as a lift boy on a nightclub with such features as comic sketches and striptease dancing, Kitano saw his chance when a comedian suddenly fell ill, and he went on stage in the man's place. With a friend he formed the comic duo "The Two Beat" (his artist's name, "Beat Takeshi", comes from this period), which became very popular on Japanese television.

Kitano soon embarked on an acting career, and when the director of _Violent Cop (1990)_ fell ill, he took over that function as well. Immediately after that film was finished he set out to make a second gangster movie, Boiling Point. Just after finishing Getting Any?, Kitano was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that almost killed him. It changed his way of life, and he became an active painter. This change can be seen in his later films, which are characterized by his giving more importance to the aesthetics of the film, such as in Hana-bi and Kikujirô no natsu.
He is always credited as "Beat Takeshi" as an actor, and always credited as "Kitano Takeshi" as a director. Frequently casts Ren Osugi and Susumu Terajima. Directed music video for his daughter, Shoko Kitano. Had a motorbike accident ending up in hospital for a month. Due to heavy damage suffered in a motorbike incident, he was subjected of an aestetic surgical action involving his entire face. Has written over fifty books, including volumes of film criticism and novels. Often appears on Japanese variety shows. Often show beautiful tattoos on his characters' backs to represent yakuza status. His Father's name was Kikujiro. Takeshi Kitano admitted that his father spoke to him three times only William Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A. and Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia are two of his favorite films. Before becoming a film-maker, he was once a boxer and a tap dancer. Speaks excellent English, but still prefers to give interviews through interpreters. He is an accomplished tap dancer.