Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, star of 'Mortal Kombat' and 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale', passes away
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (photo: Getty Images)
Famous Hollywood actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who took Russian citizenship after the start of the full-scale war, has died.
According to USA TODAY, the actor, known to audiences for his roles in "Hachi", "Memoirs of a Geisha", and "Mortal Kombat", reportedly passed away due to complications following a stroke.
About Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was born on September 27, 1950, in Tokyo. At the age of five, he moved to the United States with his family.
He studied at the University of Southern California and trained in traditional Japanese karate.
Before entering the film industry, Tagawa worked in various fields, including as a massage therapist, photojournalist, and driver.
He got his first role in 1986 as an extra in the film "Big Trouble in Little China."
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (photo: Getty Images)
After that, he appeared in TV series such as "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Baywatch", and "Babylon 5", playing supporting roles.
In 1993, the actor took part in the film "Rising Sun", showcasing his martial arts skills.
After that, Hollywood began to take notice of him. Tagawa gained the greatest popularity for his role as Shang Tsung in "Mortal Kombat". Another one of his most famous works was the film "Hachi: A Dog's Tale".
Scene from the film "Hachi: A Dog's Tale"
In 2010, Tagawa unexpectedly appeared on Russian TV as a participant in the show "Let’s Get Married," where he said he was looking for love specifically in Russia and believed he could find a sincere wife only there.
In 2015, the actor converted to Orthodoxy in Moscow. During this period, he also starred in the film "The Honored Priest: Confession of a Samurai" alongside Putin supporter Ivan Okhlobystin.
A year later, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa officially obtained Russian citizenship.
