Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Japanese-American actor whose intense looks and graceful menace made him a fixture in action films for more than four decades, has died at the age of 75.
Tagawa, known for his roles in “Mortal Kombat,” “License to Kill” and “The Man in the High Castle,” died Thursday from complications caused by a stroke, a representative confirmed to The Times. He died in Santa Barbara surrounded by family members.
Tagawa was born in Japan and grew up partly on US military bases before coming to Los Angeles, where he taught his own style of martial arts called Chu Xing. He was discovered by Bernardo Bertolucci and played in the film “The Last Emperor”, released in 1987.
His role in the Oscar-winning epic quickly brought him fame, and he starred in more than 30 films, many of which showcased his fighting skills.
Tagawa has become one of Hollywood's most reliable character actors, routinely playing elegant and cunning villains.
“I had the honor of representing Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa for many years as his longtime manager, but our relationship has grown into something much deeper—he has become like family,” manager Margie Weiner said in a statement. “Cary was a rare soul: generous, thoughtful and endlessly dedicated. His loss is immeasurable. My heart goes out to his family, friends and everyone who loved him.”
His most defining role came in 1995, film “Mortal Kombat”. in which he played the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung – a performance that has become a cult classic, especially remembered for his immortal phrase “Your soul is mine.” He reprized the character in the 2013 television series Mortal Kombat: Legacy and voiced Tsung in the video game Mortal Kombat 11, introducing his work to a new generation of fans.
He later played Commerce Minister Nobusuke Tagomi in The Man in the High Castle from Amazon. a performance that earned him some of the strongest criticism of his career. He was the main character of three seasons of the series, released in 2015.
Off-screen, Tagawa was known as a warm, charismatic mentor who encouraged young actors and martial artists.
“Cary was a great talent and a wonderful person,” said his publicist Penny Vizcarra, executive director of PV Public Relations. “Our entire team loved working with him and appreciated the way he treated everyone with love and respect.”
Tagawa is survived by his children Kalen, Byrne and Kana, and grandchildren River and Thea Clayton.
