
News
Share
Published 07:53 5 Dec 2025 GMT
Updated 07:53 5 Dec 2025 GMT
James Bond and Mortal Kombat star Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has died aged 75.
The well-known actor appeared in numerous TV shows and films from the likes of The Man in the High Castle to James Bond Licence to Kill.
The actor played the role of Kwang in the 1989 James Bond film.
Tagawa's family confirmed to Deadline the news of the actors death on Thursday 4 December.
He died in Santa Barbara in California after complications from a stroke, it has been reported.
Tagawa was born in Tokyo in 1950 and spent time growing up in the USA due to his father's work in the American army.
Tagawa also starred in The Last Emperor, Memoirs of a Geisha, Planet of the Apes and Tekken.
The actor employed his martial arts skills in many of his films.
In a 2010 interview with Deadline, he said: “I was born in Tokyo and began training in Kendo when I was in junior high school.
“Then when I was five we moved to Fort Bragg, NC; and that’s when I got my first real lesson in how to use the martial arts. Being Japanese and living in the south during the 50s was pretty tough.”
Tagawa was also a Russian citizen and shot a Russian film called The Priest-san.
He gained citizenship in 2016 after converting to Eastern Orthodoxy.
He spent his final days living on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, and is survived by his wife Sally and three children.
Explore more on these topics:

Man shot with crossbow on UK university campus
BREAKING A man has been shot with a crossbow on a university campus in the UK. The shooting has led to the arrest of a 21-year old man on suspicion of attempted murder. Police officers were called to reports of a man in his 50s being shot at 10:00 BST this morning (Thursday 3 June) […]
News
10h
Keir Starmer slams Musk for ‘whipping up division’ in the UK over Henry Nowak’s murder
“Musk again has been interfering in our politics.” Keir Starmer has hit out Elon Musk, accusing him of trying to ‘whip up division’ in the UK with his response to Henry Nowak’s murder. During a visit to York on Thursday, the prime minister told Sky News Musk was using Nowak’s death to “interfere in our […]
News
12h
News
All the reviews for Clarkson’s Farm Series 5 as audience favourite returns
News