Mortal Kombat Actor, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Is Dead

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, a Tokyo-born actor known for his roles in Mortal Kombat and The Man in the High Castle, has passed away at the age of 75.

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa died in Santa Barbara, surrounded by family, due to complications from a stroke, his manager Margie Weiner confirmed on Thursday.

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

“His loss is immeasurable. My heart is with his family, friends, and all who loved him,” she said in an email.

Tagawa’s acting career gained momentum in 1987 with his role in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning film The Last Emperor.

He later appeared in movies such as Pearl Harbor, Planet of the Apes, and License to Kill.

Although born in Japan, Tagawa spent much of his childhood in the southern United States, as his Hawaii-born father was stationed at Army bases across the mainland.

He also lived in Honolulu and on the island of Kauai for a period. His father met his mother in Japan while serving there.

Tagawa once told Honolulu Magazine that he was named after Cary Grant, while his brother was named after Gregory Peck.

His mother, Ayako, had been a stage actress in Japan and initially advised him against acting, saying there were few good roles for Asian actors.

Tagawa began acting at 36, after trying various jobs including farming celery, driving limos, delivering pizza supplies, and working as a photojournalist.

Reflecting on Hollywood’s treatment of Asian actors, he told Midweek in 2005, “The good news for Asian actors and Hollywood is that it’s better than it’s ever been, but the bad news is that it hasn’t changed that much.

“The opportunities haven’t increased that much, but commercially there’s more exposure.”

He played the Baron in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), a film adaptation of the bestselling novel about a young Japanese girl rising from poverty to high society.

While some critics questioned the film’s authenticity, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa said it was unrealistic to expect an American-made film to fully capture Japanese culture.

“What did they expect? It wasn’t a documentary. Unless the Japanese did the movie, it’s all interpretation,” he told The Associated Press in 2006.

Outside of acting, Tagawa studied martial arts but left competitive fighting behind, instead creating a system called Ninjah Sportz, which used martial arts for training and healing.

He worked with professional athletes, including boxer Brian Viloria, and advised University of Hawaii football players.

In 2008, Tagawa pleaded guilty in a Honolulu court to a minor misdemeanor for harassing a girlfriend, who had bruises on her legs.

His lawyer said Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa accepted full responsibility and did not make excuses.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nollywood film community was also plunged into mourning following the sudden death of popular actor Odira Nwobu early Monday morning.