Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Iconic Villain Actor, Dies at 75

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the actor who brought unforgettable villains to life on screen, has died at 75. Born in Tokyo in 1950, Tagawa moved to the United States as a young child, following his father’s military posting from Hawaii. He spent his early years in Santa Barbara, California, where he passed away on 4 December, surrounded by family. The cause was complications from a stroke.

From Tokyo to Hollywood

Tagawa’s journey into acting began in the late 1980s. He landed his first major role in 1987, appearing in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning film, The Last Emperor. Just two years later, he was cast in the James Bond classic Licence to Kill, quickly making a name for himself in Hollywood. His career picked up pace with a part in Rising Sun, and soon after, he secured the role that would define his career for many: the sorcerer Shang Tsung in the 1995 adaptation of Mortal Kombat. Tagawa’s portrayal became iconic, and he would go on to reprise the character in several follow-up films and TV series.

Career Highlights and Later Work

Tagawa’s filmography is packed with memorable roles, but he also found success on the small screen. In 2015, he starred in the much-talked-about Prime series The Man in the High Castle, which brought his talents to a new generation of viewers. His final credited role was in the adult animated series Blue Eye Samurai, which aired in 2023.

Reflecting on his early years, Tagawa once told The AV Club in 2015,

“I’ve had a slightly different experience than most Asian and Asian-American actors in Hollywood. I was born in Tokyo, left when I was 5, and was raised in the U.S. on a U.S. Army post during the 1950s and 1960s, at a time when it wasn’t real popular to be Japanese—because of the war, of course—and really had to sort of roll my own reality and make some decisions at a very young age about how I wanted to proceed in what was a… complicated experiment.”

Personal Life and Tributes

Tagawa’s manager, Margie Weiner, confirmed his passing, sharing,

“Cary was a rare soul: generous, thoughtful, and endlessly committed to his craft.”

She added,

“His loss is immeasurable. My heart is with his family, friends, and all who loved him.”

Tagawa is survived by his wife, Sally Phillips, his children Calen, Byrnne, and Cana, and two grandchildren, River and Thea Clayton. He often spoke about the impact of his heritage and upbringing on his career, recalling his time working on The Last Emperor as a dream come true:

“It was mind boggling. You know, to suddenly be working with one of the top-10 directors in the world, plus the film was in China, I almost blurted out, ‘How much do I have to pay?’ It was just like a dream come true. That was an amazing experience.”