Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the martial arts icon known for his prolific Hollywood career, has passed away at the age of 75, as confirmed by his family.
Tagawa was celebrated for his roles in the Mortal Kombat franchise and films like *The Last Emperor* and *Memoirs of a Geisha*. Over his extensive career, he appeared in more than 150 different roles.
His final major role was in 2015 on Amazon Prime’s *The Man In High Castle*, portraying Nobusuke Tagomi, the Trade Minister of the Pacific States of America.
He passed away on Thursday in Santa Barbara, surrounded by his children, following complications from a stroke.
One of his most memorable performances was as the malevolent sorcerer Shang Tsung in the film, TV, and video game versions of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
He initially brought the character to life in 1995 when New Line Cinema created the first Hollywood film adaptation. He later returned as Shang Tsung in the sequel *Mortal Kombat Annihilation*.
Tagawa reprised this iconic role in the 2013 TV series *Mortal Kombat: Legacy* and the 2019 video game *Mortal Kombat 11*. His likeness was also used in the 2023 game *Mortal Kombat: Onslaught*.
Aside from his work in Mortal Kombat, Tagawa’s breakthrough film was Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning *The Last Emperor*, released in 1987.
Though his role as Chang, the emperor’s driver, was brief, it was crucial in advancing the storyline.
This notable performance led to numerous other achievements, including appearances in films like *License to Kill*, *Rising Sun*, *Snow Falling on Cedars*, *Pearl Harbor*, *Planet of the Apes*, *Elektra*, *Memoirs of a Geisha*, and *47 Ronin*.
Many of these roles showcased Tagawa’s extensive martial arts expertise, as he was trained in both kendo and karate.
He began his kendo training during junior high and later, at the age of 21, he started practicing karate while attending the University of Southern California.
After completing his education, he returned to Japan to study under Master Nakayama with the Japan Karate Association, and even developed his own martial arts system called Chun-Shin.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is survived by his three children, Calen, Brynne, and Cana, as well as his two grandchildren, River and Thea Clayton.