Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa breathed life into characters with a presence that felt larger than the screen. However, his family shared the kind of news that lands heavily on the heart. According to Deadline, Tagawa passed on Thursday, while being held close by his children. They shared that complications from a stroke took him. Tagawa, for many, will always remain the fierce and unforgettable Shang Tsung, a role he carried through decades with an energy that never faded.
RIP Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. I will never forget your iconic role as Shang Tsung. Mortal Kombat was a big part of many children’s lives when I was growing up and your performance was a gift to all of us. pic.twitter.com/w1D0iZRiQX
— Damaged Sector (@DamagedSector) December 5, 2025
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s Net Worth
Tagawa’s long journey through Hollywood built more than fame. It built value. By 2025, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa held a reported net worth of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His earnings grew from decades of steady work and the global reach of the Mortal Kombat films, shows, and games. The impact of that film helped push the games even further. The first movie earned more than $120 million worldwide against a modest budget, giving strong returns to all involved, including him.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s Lasting Career Impact
Tagawa first gave life to Shang Tsung in New Line Cinema’s 1995 film, returned in the 1997 sequel, and stepped back into the role across Mortal Kombat Legacy in 2013, Mortal Kombat X Generations in 2015, Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019, and the 2023 game Mortal Kombat Onslaught. He once said the timing of the original film matched perfectly with the strength of the video games, and that the success of one helped lift the other.
Tagawa’s reach extended far beyond that one franchise. He appeared in The Last Emperor, Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Man in the High Castle. His body of work grew to nearly 150 acting credits, including Big Trouble in Little China, Tekken, Pearl Harbor, Planet of the Apes, Elektra, and Snow Falling on Cedars.
“YOUR SOUL IS MINE” RIP to an absolute legend Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa pic.twitter.com/8MOPsS9I9D
— Scott Braveboy 🦖 (@TScottBrave) December 5, 2025
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s Early Life & Personal Strength
Tagawa’s strength did not start on a set. He trained in the Kendo form of martial arts, giving his work a grounded physicality. Born in Japan, he moved to Bragg, North Carolina, at the age of 5. His life in the South during the 1950s left a mark he never hid, and in a 2010 interview, he described those early years as pretty tough. His honesty made his journey feel even more powerful because his success grew from a place of struggle, discipline, and, most importantly, perseverance.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was an acting legend!
Some of his memorable roles include:
Showdown In Little Tokyo
Mortal Kombat
The Phantom
Johnny Tsunami
Planet of The Apes
Mortal Kombat 11 (Video Game) pic.twitter.com/WyrfYuegUH— The Legacy of Nerd (@thelegacyofnerd) December 5, 2025
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