Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Star of 'Mortal Kombat' and 'The Man in the High Castle', Passes Away at Age 75

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, celebrated for his iconic performances in the Mortal Kombat films and the series The Man in the High Castle, has passed away at 75. He died in Santa Barbara on Thursday due to complications following a stroke.

I had the honor of representing Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa for many years as his manager, but over time he became like family, shared longtime manager Margie Weiner. Cary was exceptional: generous, thoughtful, and wholly devoted to his craft. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Tagawa was the son of an actress mother and a military father. His family moved frequently before settling in Southern California, where he completed high school and later studied at the University of Southern California. In Los Angeles, he began his acting career and developed his own martial arts system, Chu Shin.

Tagawas early film work included Bernardo Bertoluccis 1987 epic The Last Emperor, which won nine Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Reflecting on the experience in a 2015 interview with AV Club, he described working with Bertolucci in China as a dream come true.

Over the years, Tagawa appeared in numerous films, such as the villain Kwang in Licence to Kill (1989), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), and Tekken (2010). His portrayal of Shang Tsung in Paul Andersons 1995 Mortal Kombat remains iconic, later reprising the role in Mortal Kombat: Legacy (2013), Mortal Kombat X: Generations, and the Mortal Kombat 11 video game.

Tagawa also had a strong presence on television, appearing in shows including Nash Bridges, Miami Vice, Baywatch, and Hawaii. His portrayal of Trade Minister Nobusuke Tagomi in the Emmy-winning series The Man in the High Castle was widely acclaimed. He also contributed his distinctive voice to Netflixs animated series Blue Eye Samurai (2023).

Author: Riley Thompson