The Japanese-American actor who played "Mortal Kombat" sorcerer Shang Tsung, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, died at 75. Tagawa died Thursday in Santa Barbara, California, from stroke complications, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A Four-Decade Career

Tagawa began acting in tiny roles before fame came with Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor" (1987), which won nine Oscars.

Tagawa, a military child from Tokyo, moved to the US early and resided in Los Angeles, where he practiced martial arts and acting.

In a 2015 interview, Tagawa called his split with Bertolucci “an incredible experience with one of the world’s greatest directors.”

'Shang Tsung': The Key

Tagawa gained famous after playing Shang Tsung in 1995's "Mortal Kombat," a character that fans of the video game and its films revered.

He reprised this persona in "Mortal Kombat: Legacy" (2013) and "Mortal Kombat 11" (2019).

"Mortal Kombat changed my career..."  I brought Shang Tsung to life for new generations," he claimed in 2015.

Variety of Film and TV Roles

In addition to his most renowned role, Tagawa featured in “License to Kill” (1989), “Planet of the Apes” (2001), and “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005).

 He appeared in “Nash Bridges,” “Revenge,” and “Star Wars: Rebels.”

He was lauded for playing Nobusuke Tagomi in Amazon's Emmy-winning "The Man in the High Castle."

Fond Family and Colleague Farewells

Tagawa and his wife Sally raised their two children on Kauai Island.  Longtime manager Margie Weiner emotionally stated:

Cary was a special soul, kind and committed to his work till the end.  He was like family to me; this grief is indescribable.”

CaryHiroyuki Tagawa's death ends an era for viewers who adored him as a superb villain and an actor who added knowledge and depth to every legend he portrayed.