Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Japanese-American actor know for his appearances in hit franchises such as “Mortal Kombat,” “James Bond” and “Planet of the Apes,” has died at 75.
The actor died due to complications from a stroke, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“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,” Tagawa’s manager Margie Weiner said in a statement sent to the Hollywood Reporter. “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.”
Tagawa was born in Tokyo in 1950 and moved around the United States frequently as a child. His father was in the U.S. Army and his mother was an actress from Tokyo, according to his IMDb biography.
Achieving a breakthrough as the eunuch Chang in 1987’s “The Last Emperor,” he would go on to make an appearance in the James Bond film “License to Kill.”
Tagawa is best known for his role as evil sorcerer Shang Tsung in the 1995 film “Mortal Kombat,” a role he reprised in the 2011 TV show “Mortal Kombat: Legacy” and the video game “Mortal Kombat 11.”
He also starred in other major films, including “Pearl Harbor,” “Planet of the Apes,” “47 Ronin,” “Elektra” and “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
Tagawa is survived by his wife, Sally, their three children, Calen, Brynne and Cana, and two grandchildren, according to The Hollywood Reporter.