Television personality E.H. Eric died of Parkinson's disease at his home in Hawaii on Thursday night, his brother's office said Saturday. He was 71.
Eric, whose real name was Taibi Okada, was born in France to a Japanese father and Danish mother.
His manner of peppering his speech with English and French phrases as a television host caught on among many Japanese.
Eric, whose younger brother is popular actor Masumi Okada, served as emcee for the Beatles 1966 concert in Tokyo.
He moved to Hawaii's Maui Island several years ago as part of his treatment.