Mortal Kombat star, sci-fi genre actor and producer Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has passed away as the result of complications from a stroke. He died in his own home, his three children at his side.

Tagawa was born September 7, 1950 in Tokyo, Japan. He died December 4, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California, USA. He was 75.

Roles of Especial Interest to Sci-fi Radio Fans

Tagawa was no stranger to science fiction and fantasy roles, and his filmography is a testimony to his dedication to the genre.

• From 2015 to 2018, Tagawa starred as Nobusuke Tagomi in The Man in the High Castle.
• Tagawa played the alien Zylyn in the short-lived Space Rangers TV show (1993-1994).
• In Spellbinder (1988), the American horror film, not the Australian fantasy show of the same name he played Lieutenant Lee.
• Tagawa played the villain Kwang in the James Bond film License to Kill (1989)
• Tagawa played Tokugawa Tsunayoshi in47 Ronin (2013)
• He played David Deyo in Vampires (1998)
• Tagawa was Krull in Planet of the Apes (2001)
• He was pirate leader Kabai Sengh in The Phantom (1996).
• He played the steward in the horror film Ghost Voyage (2008).
• In the Mortal Kombat franchise Tagawa spent several years, 1995-2018, portraying the shapeshifting sorcerer Shang Tsung.
• He played Hiroki Watanbe in the reboot of Lost in Space.
• Tagawa starred as Genghis Khan in the 2015 film, Genghis Khan Conquers the Moon.
• He had guest roles on Babylon 5, Star Trek: the Next Generation, Superboy, Alien Nation, Poltergeist: the Legacy, Teen Wolf, Stargate:SG-1, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Seven Days, Heroes, and The Librarians.

Other Roles

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa made his acting debut in the short Shinryu vs. Ravedactyl: Code Name Justice & Gekido as Lord Shinryu, followed almost immediately by an uncredited role in the immensely popular Big Trouble in Little China (1986). His big breakthrough role was as Chang in The Last Emperor (1987)

In the 80’s and 90’s, Tagawa had a variety of movie and television roles, all too often playing a “yellow peril” -stereotyped villain. He also starred in the regrettably short-lived police show Hawaii as Captain Terry Harada.

Voice Roles

Tagawa was also respected for his voice roles in animated movies and shows, and in videogames.

• Alrich Wren in Star Wars Rebels
• Sumo Kuma in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Akita in DuckTales
• Valco in Star Wars: Visions

Tagawa’s contribution to the sci-fi/fantasy zeitgeist is an indelible part of our culture. We salute his accomplishments, and offer our condolenscences to his family. He will be greatly missed.