The world of action films lost an important figure this week, as actor and producer Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa passed away on Thursday in Santa Barbara. According to Deadline, Tagawa passed away due to complications from a stroke. The 75-year-old actor was best known for his role as antagonist Shang Tsung in the live-action adaptation of the action game Mortal Kombat. With a career spanning over four decades, Tagawa became synonymous with overpowered villains and also with the franchises he helped take to the next level.
Apart from his menacing role as Shang Tsung, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was also known for his roles in films like the Tekken series, where he played the character of Heihachi Hishima, the man who started the famed tournament. He also appeared in films like John Glen’s 007 flick Licence to Kill (1989), Rob Marshall’s Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) and Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987).
His voice roles also brought him a lot of fame, as he voiced characters for several animated series and games like Batman: The Rise of Sin Tzum and the much-celebrated Blue Eye Samurai (2023).
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s manager released a statement post his demise. It read, “I had the privilege of representing Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa for many years as his long-time manager, but our relationship grew into something far deeper; he became like family. Cary was a rare soul: generous, thoughtful, and endlessly committed to his craft. His loss is immeasurable. My heart is with his family, friends, and all who loved him.”
Fans on Reddit shared their favourite memories of Tagawa. One user wrote, “It was damn magical how good he did, Shang. He is this character when I play the game as far as I am concerned,” while another said, “My day is ruined, and my discontent is immeasurable. I’m just happy that we had the chance to have him as Shang in Mortal Kombat 11; may he rest in peace.” Many shared videos of his character’s famous tagline, “Your soul is mine,” and wrote RIP in the caption.
