Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa passed away on Thursday morning. He was 75 years old. Tagawa is best remembered for his role in the 90s cinematic version of the hit computer game Mortal Kombat. He played Outworld sorcerer, Shang Tsung. In his role, he immortalized the phrase "your soul is mine." To this day, Millennials and Gen-X still quote that line when discussing iconic movies and games from their childhoods.
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Complications from a stroke caused Tagawa's passing. His family confirmed the news when speaking to Deadline.
"Cary was a rare soul: generous, thoughtful, and endlessly committed to his craft," his family said in a statement. "His loss is immeasurable. My heart is with his family, friends, and all who loved him."
While Mortal Kombat is Tagawa's most well-known movie, he also had roles in some major smash-hits, including Pearl Harbor, Planet of the Apes, and 47 Ronin. Outside of movies, his voice has been used in some huge computer games, with World of Warcraft: Legion being the most well-known.
Of course, with such an extensive career in the movie industry, Tagawa had the luxury of working with some of the best producers in the game. Those names include, but are not limited to, Tim Burton, Michael Bay and Philip Kaufman.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Understood Why Mortal Kombat Was Successful
The original Mortal Kombat movie was released in 1995, making the film 30 years old. And while it was never meant to be a blockbuster, it earned itself a cult following.
"It was the perfect timing in that Mortal Kombat as a video game, at the time we did the film, was on number four or five and that the impact of the film certainly had to do with the build of the video games," Tagawa said of the movie, before crediting director Paul W.S Anderson for his forsight on blending martial arts with upbeat music. He was the first one in martial arts history to apply such music — really upbeat, driving metal music. You couldn't sit still when you heard the music. And it matched the action so well."
Throughout his multi-decade career, Tagawa consistently delivered within his roles. And while Shang Tsung is how many will remember him, he leaves behind a lasting legacy.
Tagawa is survived by his ex-wife Sally Phillips, three children and two grandchildren.
