Japanese-American actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, best known for playing evil sorcerer Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat, has died on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
He was 75.
The actor died of complications from a stroke, his representative Penny Vizcarra confirmed to PEOPLE magazine
He passed away at his Santa Barbara home in California, surrounded by family—including his wife, Sally, and their three children: Calen, Brynne, and Cana.
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CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA'S LEGACY
Tagawa first gained acclaim playing Chang in the Oscar-winning epic The Last Emperor (1987), which won nine Academy awards, including Best Picture.
His role in the film quickly propelled him to fame, and he went on to star in more than 30 films — many of which showcased his combat skills.
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In 1995, Tagawa made his debut as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat, a role that became iconic.
He reprised the role in multiple sequels and web series, and even lent his voice and likeness for video games—making his version of the evil sorcerer a defining image for generations of fans.
He also appeared in the films Pearl Harbor and Planet of the Apes (2001), Elektra and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), and 47 Ronin (2013).
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His final major screen role was in 2015—in the Amazon sci-fi series The Man in the High Castle, where he portrayed fictional Trade Minister of the Pacific States of America, Nobusuke Tagomi.