Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who had roles in more than 150 projects, has tragically passed away at the age of 75, Deadline reports. He was well-known for his portrayal as evil sorcerer Shang Tsung in the Mortal Kombat franchise.
Tagawa died on Thursday, Dec. 4 in Santa Barbara, with the outlet adding that he passed away “due to complications from a stroke.” He was surrounded by his children at the time.
He is survived by three children, Calen, Brynne, and Cana, along with his two grandchildren, River and Thea.
Tributes Pour In For Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Many took to social media after Tagawa’s passing paying tribute to the legendary actor.
“Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa had been in a lot of shows and movies, but no one could ever match the energy he brought as Shang Tsung in the first ever #MortalKombatMovie in ’95. May he now rest in peace. May your legacy shall live on for eternity, Mr. Tagawa,” one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“RIP Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, an absolute legend of the Asian-American community. Thank you for all your phenomenal contributions to cinema,” another person wrote.
“RIP Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. I will never forget your iconic role as Shang Tsung. Mortal Kombat was a big part of many children’s lives when I was growing up and your performance was a gift to all of us,” someone commented.
“GUTTED to hear of the passing of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Shang Tsung is THE most iconic video game villain, and Tagawa brought him to life with such perfection. His voice will live on forever in my heart. Rest easy, and thank you, Mr. Tagawa,” one person stated.
“Rest in peace CaryâHiroyuki Tagawa. Thank you for making my childhood nothing short of incredible, it would have been incomplete without you. See you in Outworld, Mr. Shang Tsung,” another person posted.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s Legacy
Tagawa’s breakout role was in Bernardo Bertolucciâs Oscar-winning The Last Emperor in 1987, where he played Chang, the emperorâs driver. He went on to appear in numerous other films, including License to Kill, Pearl Harbor, Planet of the Apes, and Memoirs of a Geisha.
But, as for his role in Mortal Kombat, he originated the role in 1995 and returned for the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. From there, he went on to appear or voice characters in spin-offs.
Tagawa has worked with numerous incredible directors, including Philip Kaufman, Tim Burton, and Michael Bay.
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