Overview
- Tagawa died on December 4 in Santa Barbara, California, at age 75, according to a confirmation to USA Today from spokesperson Penny Vizcarra.
- The cause was reported as complications after a stroke, with no additional details on memorial plans disclosed in the coverage.
- He was widely recognized for roles in Mortal Kombat, Pearl Harbor and Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor, which won nine Oscars in 1988.
- Born in Japan and raised in California, he studied acting at Duarte High School and USC, then deepened his karate training in Japan.
- He is survived by his wife, Sally, his children Calen, Brynne and Cana, and his grandchildren River and Thea Clayton.