Hollywood and gaming fans are mourning the passing of acclaimed actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, best known for his role as the villain Shang Tsung in the 1995 blockbuster Mortal Kombat. He died at the age of 75 on Thursday, December 4, 2025, reportedly due to complications from a stroke, according to TMZ.
Tagawa spent his final moments surrounded by his family, including his children.
A Career of Global Roles
Born on September 27, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, Tagawa moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Southern California, where he honed his craft at the University of Southern California.
His career was defined by influential roles that often bridged Eastern and Western cinema. He first gained international attention in 1987 with his role as Eunuch Chang in Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor, a film that won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Tagawa cemented his place in pop culture history with his iconic portrayal of the sorcerer Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat, known for his memorable line: “Your soul is mine!”
He is survived by his three children with his ex-wife Sally Phillips, whom he married in 1984.
Source: TMZ
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