Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, 'Mortal Kombat' star dies at 75

• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, a Japanese-American actor, dies at 75 years old
• He's known for his iconic role as Shang Tsung in 'Mortal Kombat'
• Tagawa worked across films, TV, and video games for decades
• He also became famous for his martial arts skills and strong screen presence

Japanese-American actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, best known for playing powerful and often villainous characters in Hollywood, has passed away at the age of 75.

According to his representative, Penny Vizcarra, Tagawa died from complications following a stroke at his home in Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday morning, Dec. 4.

Tagawa became widely recognized after playing the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung in the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie—a role that fans still celebrate today.

He later returned to the franchise through different adaptations in films, TV shows, and video games.

Tagawa also portrayed Heihachi Mishima in the 2009 live-action film Tekken and lent his voice to several video game characters over the years.

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Born in Japan and raised in the United States, Tagawa grew up with a strong background in martial arts, including Japanese Karate and his own discipline called Chun-Shin.

His skills, combined with his intense screen presence, helped him land many roles that highlighted Asian stories and characters in Hollywood.

Tagawa’s film career began with a small role in the 1987 film 'The Last Emperor,' directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.

The movie went on to win nine Oscars, including Best Picture, helping launch his long and successful career.

He is survived by his wife, Sally, along with his three children and two grandchildren.

'Mortal Kombat' is a popular fighting video game series known for its intense battles, unique characters, and signature “fatalities,” which are dramatic finishing moves.

First released in 1992, it quickly became famous for its mix of martial arts, supernatural elements, and a dark, fantasy-style storyline.

Over the years, it has grown into a major franchise with movies, TV shows, comics, and a huge global fan base.

Read the full article published by PhilSTAR Life here to learn more details about this story.

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In an earlier local report from KAMI, a family of three was mercilessly shot and killed inside their store in Barangay Mallorca, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. CCTV footage showed three men entering the store, closing the roll-up door, and then shooting the entire family to death. Before fleeing, one of the suspects took a bag and a cellphone belonging to the victims. According to Gary De Leon of TV5 Frontline Pilipinas, the family began receiving threats after they lent ₱1 million to a resident in their barangay, who reportedly used the money for business.

In another viral local report, a 51-year-old public school teacher in Las Piñas City was stabbed multiple times by her own husband. Based on EJ Gomez’s report in Unang Balita, the 38-year-old suspect committed the crime inside the school’s faculty room. Police said the school had a security guard, but because the suspect was a familiar face, he was able to enter and leave easily. The suspect claimed he went there to talk to his wife and fix their marital issues, but the meeting ended in a violent argument.

Source: KAMI.com.gh