Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Passes Away: Actor from 'Mortal Kombat' and 'Man In The High Castle' was 75

Renowned Japanese-American actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, celebrated for his performances in Mortal Kombat, The Last Emperor, Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Man in the High Castle, passed away on Thursday, December 4, in Santa Barbara, California. He was 75 years old.

Reports indicate that Tagawa died from complications related to a stroke, surrounded by his family. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the villainous Shang Tsung, the formidable sorcerer and central antagonist in the Mortal Kombat series. Tagawa first took on the role in the 1995 film adaptation and later reprised it in sequels, television series, and video game appearances, becoming closely associated with the characters sinister charisma.

A skilled martial artist trained in Kendo, Tagawa was born in Japan and relocated to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at the age of five. Beyond his iconic role in Mortal Kombat, he appeared in over 100 film and television projects. Notable film appearances include John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, Michael Bays Pearl Harbor, Tim Burtons Planet of the Apes, Bernardo Bertoluccis The Last Emperor, and the James Bond film License to Kill.

On television, Tagawa portrayed Nobusuke Tagomi in Amazon Primes The Man in the High Castle and Hiroki Watanabe in Netflixs Lost in Space. His distinctive voice also brought life to animated projects and video games, including roles in Blue Eye Samurai, DuckTales, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the animated film Kubo and the Two Strings.

Tagawa resided in Kauai, Hawaii, with his wife Sally and their three children: Calen, Brynne, and Cana.

Author: Aiden Foster