Overview
- Tagawa died on Dec. 4 in Santa Barbara, with his family present, according to his family, manager Margie Weiner and publicist Penny Vizcarra.
- He became synonymous with Shang Tsung, reprising the role across the 1995 film, later TV/web series, and video games including Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat: Onslaught.
- A prolific career spanning more than 100 credits included a breakout in The Last Emperor, studio films such as Licence to Kill and Memoirs of a Geisha, and a lauded turn in The Man in the High Castle.
- Born in Tokyo and raised partly on U.S. military bases, he trained in kendo and later taught his own martial-arts system, Chu Shin, which informed many of his roles.
- He is survived by his wife, Sally, children Calen, Brynne and Cana, and grandchildren River and Thea Clayton, as tributes from colleagues and fans, including Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon, appeared on social media.