Home News Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, Actor Known as Shang Tsung, Dies at 75

Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, Actor Known as Shang Tsung, Dies at 75

Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Japanese American actor widely recognized for his memorable villainous roles, passed away at the age of 75 on December 4, 2025, in Santa Barbara, California. The actor’s death was caused by complications following a stroke. He was at his home and surrounded by his children.

A Career of Iconic Roles

Tagawa had a prolific career spanning several decades, often being cast as an authoritative figure or a formidable antagonist. His most iconic and enduring role was that of the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung in the Mortal Kombat franchise. He first brought the character to life in the 1995 film adaptation and later reprised the role for the 2013 web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy and the 2019 video game Mortal Kombat 11.

Beyond the fighting game franchise, Tagawa’s filmography includes major motion pictures such as the James Bond film Licence to Kill in 1989, Showdown in Little Tokyo in 1991, Hachiko: A dog’s Tale, Rising Sun in 1993, and the Academy Award winning film The Last Emperor in 1987. On television, he was a main cast member on the first season of Nash Bridges and played the recurring role of Trade Minister Nobusuke Tagomi in the Amazon series The Man in the High Castle.

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actor death Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa Japanese American actor Mortal Kombat actor Shang Tsung The Man in the High Castle

Sai T.

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