December 05, (THEWILL) — Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, best known for his role as the sorcerer Shang Tsung in the original 1995 Mortal Kombat film, passed away from complications of a stroke on December 4, 2025, in Santa Barbara, California, his spokesperson, Penny Vizcarra, confirmed. He was 75.
Margie Weiner, Tagawa’s longtime manager, said in a statement, “Representing Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was a privilege, and over the years he became like family to me. He was a rare soul, generous, thoughtful, and devoted to his craft. His loss is immense. My heart is with his loved ones during this difficult time.”
Tagawa’s portrayal of Shang Tsung, marked by his famous line, “Your soul is mine”, became instantly iconic and earned him lasting recognition.
He later reprised the role in several Mortal Kombat projects, including the 2013 web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy, and provided the voice and likeness for the character in the video game Mortal Kombat 11.
Beyond the Mortal Kombat franchise, Tagawa appeared in films such as Pearl Harbour, Planet of the Apes, 47 Ronin, Elektra, and Memoirs of a Geisha.
His screen career also included roles in the action thriller Rising Sun (1993), the crime-action film, Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), and as part of the ensemble cast in the Oscar-winning film, The Last Emperor (1987).
Born in Tokyo, Tagawa moved to the United States at a young age and studied traditional Japanese karate at the University of Southern California.
He later returned to Japan to further refine his martial arts skills at the Japan Karate Association and eventually developed his own martial arts style, Chun-Shin. These skills greatly influenced his action roles in Hollywood.
Tagawa is survived by his wife, Sally, their three children, and two grandchildren.
