Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Tokyo-born actor famous for his roles in 'Mortal Kombat' and 'The Man in the High Castle,' has passed away at 75 due to complications from a stroke.
Tokyo-born actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, widely recognized for his portrayal of Shang Tsung in 'Mortal Kombat' and Tagomi in 'The Man in the High Castle,' died at 75 in Santa Barbara from complications following a stroke. His manager, Margie Weiner, lauded him as a 'rare soul: generous, thoughtful, and endlessly committed to his craft.' Tagawa's acting career took off in 1987 with 'The Last Emperor,' followed by notable appearances in films like 'Pearl Harbor,' 'Planet of the Apes,' and 'License to Kill.' Raised predominantly in the U.S. South, he was named after Cary Grant. Despite his mother's initial concerns about limited roles for Asian actors, Tagawa pursued acting at age 36 after various jobs. He often spoke about the slow progress for Asian representation in Hollywood. He also played the Baron in 'Memoirs of a Geisha,' defending its artistic interpretation. Outside of acting, Tagawa created 'Ninjah Sportz,' a martial arts-based system for training and healing, working with professional athletes. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassing a girlfriend.
