Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, 'Mortal Kombat' actor, passes away at age 75

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Tokyo-born actor recognized for his performances in Mortal Kombat and the television series The Man in the High Castle, has died at the age of 75. He passed away in Santa Barbara, surrounded by family, due to complications following a stroke, according to his manager Margie Weiner.

Cary was a truly exceptional individual: generous, thoughtful, and deeply devoted to his craft, Weiner shared in an email. His absence leaves a huge void. My thoughts are with his loved ones and everyone who admired him.

Tagawas career gained momentum in 1987 when he appeared in Bernardo Bertoluccis Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor. He later featured in movies such as Pearl Harbor, Planet of the Apes, and Licence to Kill.

Although born in Japan, Tagawa spent much of his upbringing in the southern United States, while his Hawaii-born father served at various mainland Army bases. He also lived in Honolulu and on the island of Kauai. Tagawa shared that his parents named him after Cary Grant and his brother after Gregory Peck. His mother, Ayako, had been a stage actress in Japan and initially discouraged him from acting due to limited opportunities for Asian performers.

He began his acting career at age 36 after working in diverse jobs including celery farming, limousine driving, pizza delivery, and photojournalism. Reflecting on the state of Hollywood for Asian actors, he remarked in 2005 that opportunities had improved in exposure but remained limited.

In 2005, Tagawa portrayed the Baron in Memoirs of a Geisha, based on the bestselling novel depicting a young girls journey from a fishing village to elite society. While some critics questioned the films authenticity, Tagawa noted that it was unrealistic to expect an American adaptation to fully capture Japanese culture and sensibilities.

Tagawa studied various martial arts but eventually focused on a system he developed called Ninjah Sportz, which combined martial arts training with health and wellness. He trained professional athletes, including World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Brian Viloria, and advised the University of Hawaii football team.

In 2008, Tagawa accepted responsibility in a Honolulu court for a petty misdemeanor harassment charge involving a former partner. He acknowledged the situation without making excuses.

Author: Zoe Harrison