Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
| Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa | |
|---|---|
 Tagawa in 2011 | |
| Born |
September 27, 1950 Tokyo, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese, Russian, American |
| Other names |
Cary Tagawa Pantaleon Tagawa |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, martial artist, sports physiologist, stuntman |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox Church |
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (田川 洋行 Tagawa Hiroyuki, born September 27, 1950) is a Japanese-American-Russian[1][2][3][4] actor, sports physiologist, martial artist, and stuntman.
He has appeared on television in Star Trek: The Next Generation ("Encounter at Farpoint"; 1987), Thunder in Paradise (1995), Nash Bridges (1996), Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003), and Heroes (2007). He provided the voice of Sin Tzu for the video game Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu. He played the part of Earth Alliance security officer Morishi in Babylon 5 ("Convictions"). He played the evil soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung in a film adaptation of the video game Mortal Kombat, a role he would reprise 18 years later for Mortal Kombat Legacy. He played the evil mastermind Heihachi Mishima in the film adaptation of Tekken. He also featured as Nobusuke Tagomi in The Man in the High Castle, the Amazon original series adaptation of the novel by Philip K. Dick.
Early life
Tagawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, the son of a Japanese actress and a Japanese-American father who served in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Hood, Texas. His mother tongues are English and Japanese and he is also fluent in Korean and Spanish.[5][6][7]
He was raised in various cities. He and his family finally settled in Southern California, where he began acting in high school while attending Duarte High School. He attended the University of Southern California, and was an exchange student in Japan.
Career
His breakthrough as an actor came when he was cast as the Eunuch Chang in The Last Emperor (1987). In 1989, he played an undercover agent of the Hong Kong Narcotics Board in the James Bond film Licence to Kill. In 1991, he starred alongside Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee in the action film Showdown in Little Tokyo, where he played the role of Yakuza boss Yoshida. He also starred alongside James Hong and Jeff Speakman in the same year in the film The Perfect Weapon, where he played Kai, an assistant to the Korean mafia families.
He appeared in the movie Mortal Kombat (1995) as the shapeshifting sorcerer Shang Tsung, and as the deadly pirate leader Kabai Sengh in The Phantom (1996). Tagawa is among the actors, producers and directors interviewed in the documentary The Slanted Screen (2006), directed by Jeff Adachi, about the representation of Asian and Asian-American men in Hollywood.
Tagawa played Heihachi Mishima in Tekken, the film adaptation of the video game franchise. In 2006, he provided the voice of Brushogun in Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo. He was in the film Johnny Tsunami (1999) and its sequel Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007). In between those two films, Tagawa played Attar's mentor Krull in Tim Burton's version of Planet of the Apes (2001).
Tagawa reprised his role as Shang Tsung for the second season of the YouTube series Mortal Kombat: Legacy. This new version of the character was unrelated to Tagawa's previous work as Tsung.[8]
He played Satoshi Takeda in Revenge, a powerful CEO in Japan and Emily Thorne's former mentor in her quest for revenge. In season 2, Tagawa took over the role from Hiroyuki Sanada, who was unable to continue due to scheduling conflicts.[9]
In 2015, Tagawa was cast as one of the lead characters, Nobusuke Tagomi, the Trade Minister of the Pacific States of America in Amazon's The Man in the High Castle. Also in November 2015, both he and Taimak from The Last Dragon Movie were honorees for the Fists of Legends Legacy Award at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo at HBO [10]
Personal life
In 2013, Tagawa started working with Orthodox Christian actors Pyotr Mamonov and Ivan Okhlobystin.[11] On November 12, 2015, he was baptized as Panteleymon in the Russian Orthodox Joy of All Who Sorrow church in Moscow.[3][4][12] In March 2016, he received Russian citizenship.[13]
Filmography and stunts
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Armed Response | Toshi | |
| 1987 | The Last Emperor | Chang | |
| 1988 | Bulletproof | Thug in Flashback | Uncredited |
| 1988 | Spellbinder | Lt. Lee | |
| 1988 | Twins | Oriental Man | |
| 1989 | Licence to Kill | Kwang | |
| 1989 | L.A. Takedown | Hugh Denny | Television film |
| 1989 | The Last Warrior | Imperial Marine | |
| 1990 | Murder in Paradise | Television film | |
| 1990 | The Bakery | Kim Lee | Television film |
| 1990 | Vestige of Honor | Thai Major | Television film |
| 1991 | Kickboxer 2: The Road Back | Sanga | |
| 1991 | Not of This World | Shikido | Television film |
| 1991 | The Perfect Weapon | Kai | |
| 1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Funekei Yoshida | |
| 1991 | Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis | Hashimoto | Television film |
| 1992 | American Me | El Japo | |
| 1992 | Nemesis | Angie-Liv | |
| 1993 | Rising Sun | Eddie Sakamura | |
| 1994 | Natural Causes | Major Somchal | |
| 1994 | Day of Reckoning | Prakit | Television film |
| 1994 | Picture Bride | Kanzuki | |
| 1995 | The Dangerous | Kon | |
| 1995 | Thunder in Paradise 3 | Mason Lee | Video |
| 1995 | Mortal Kombat | Shang Tsung | |
| 1995 | Soldier Boyz | Vinh Moc | |
| 1996 | White Tiger | Victor Chow | |
| 1996 | The Phantom | The Great Kabai Sengh | |
| 1996 | Danger Zone | Monsieur Chang | |
| 1997 | Raven: Return of the Black Dragon | Osato | Television film |
| 1997 | Top of the World | Captain Hefter | |
| 1997 | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation | Shang Tsung | Uncredited flashback cameo |
| 1998 | Vampires | David Deyo | |
| 1998 | Provocateur | Captain Jong | |
| 1998 | American Dragons | Matsuyama | |
| 1999 | NetForce | Leong Cheng | |
| 1999 | Bridge of Dragons | General Ruechang | |
| 1999 | Johnny Tsunami | Johnny Tsunami | Television film |
| 1999 | Snow Falling on Cedars | Zenhichi Miyamoto | |
| 1999 | Fixations | Alex | |
| 2000 | The Art of War | David Chan | |
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Cmdr. Minoru Genda | |
| 2001 | Planet of the Apes | Krull | |
| 2003 | Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding | Mason Sato | Television film |
| 2004 | Fallacy | ||
| 2004 | Bushido | Tetsuji | Video short |
| 2005 | Elektra | Roshi | |
| 2005 | Faith of My Fathers | Cat | Television film |
| 2005 | True Love & Mimosa Tea | Andreas Kanaka | Short |
| 2005 | The Sand Island Drive-In Anthem | Uncle C | Short |
| 2005 | Memoirs of a Geisha | The Baron | |
| 2006 | The Slanted Screen | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2006 | Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo | Brushogan (voice) | |
| 2007 | Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board | Johnny Tsunami | Television film |
| 2007 | Balls of Fury | Mysterious Asian Man | |
| 2007 | Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter | Alibek | |
| 2008 | Lost Warrior: Left Behind | Detective Yoshide | Video |
| 2008 | Ghost Voyage | The Steward | Television film |
| 2008 | Bodyguard: A New Beginning | Kai | |
| 2009 | By the Will of Chingis Khan | Bodyguard | |
| 2009 | The Legend of Chang Apana | Chang Apana | Short |
| 2009 | Hachiko: A Dog's Story | Ken | |
| 2009 | Tekken | Heihachi Mishima | |
| 2009 | The Tomb | Len Burris | |
| 2010 | Absolute.ness | Chief Dax | Short |
| 2010 | Overturned | Judge | Short |
| 2010 | Robin Hood of the Bayous | Narrator, Pirate 1 | Documentary short |
| 2012 | Black Cobra | Goro Tanaka | Video |
| 2013 | 47 Ronin | Shogun Tsunayoshi | |
| 2014 | Hype Nation 3D | Sammy Kata | |
| 2014 | Priest-San («Iereus-san») | Father Nikolai (Takuro) Nakamura | Russian film |
| 2014 | Ninja Apocalypse | Fumitaka | |
| 2014 | Tekken 2: Kazuya's Revenge | Heihachi Mishima | |
| 2014 | Skin Trade | Senator Khat | |
| 2015 | Genghis Khan Conquers the Moon | Genghis Khan | Short |
| 2015 | Junction | Narrator | |
| 2015 | The Man with the Iron Fists 2 | The Mayor | |
| 2015 | Little Boy | Hashimoto | |
| 2016 | Showdown in Manila | Aldric Cole | |
| 2016 | Beyond the Game | ||
| 2016 | Kubo and the Two Strings | Hashi (voice) | |
| 2016 | The Whole World at Our Feet | Khazar | |
| 2016 | Duel of Legends | Shing | Completed |
| 2017 | Sky Sharks | Michael Morel | Pre-Production |
| TBA | Reagan | Yasuhiro Nakasone[14] | Pre-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987, 1989 | Miami Vice | Kenji Fujitsu, Tegoro | Episode: "The Rising Sun of Death" and "Asian Cut" |
| 1987 | MacGyver | Asian Buyer | Episode: "Dalton, Jack of Spies" |
| 1987 | The Colbys | Mr. Sung | Episode: "Devil's Advocate" |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Mandarin Bailiff | Episode: "Encounter at Farpoint" |
| 1988 | Hotel | Inspector Chin | Episode: "Double Take" |
| 1989 | Superboy | Detective Jed Slade | Episode: "Terror from the Blue" |
| 1989 | Knots Landing | Mr. Toyo | Episode: "Giganticus II: The Revenge" |
| 1989 | Moonlighting | Artist | Episode: "Perfetc" |
| 1989 | A Peaceable Kingdom | Coach | Episode: "Chimp" |
| 1989 | Alien Nation | Yamato | Episode: "The First Cigar |
| 1989 | Mission: Impossible | Vang Kai | Episode: "Countdown" |
| 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Raymond Char | Episode: "Chinatown, My Chinatown" |
| 1990 | Hardball | Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues" | |
| 1991 | Baywatch | Mason Sato | Episode: "War of Nerves" |
| 1992 | Raven | Osato | Episodes: "Return of the Black Dragon" and "Reunion" |
| 1993 | Renegade | Hirotaka | Episode: "Samurai" |
| 1993–1994 | Space Rangers | Zylyn | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | Babylon 5 | Morishi | Episode: "Convictions" |
| 1996 | Cybill | Kenji | Episode: "Cybill and Maryann Go to Japan" |
| 1996–1997 | Nash Bridges | Lt. A.J. Shimamura | 12 episodes |
| 1996 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Shang Tsung | Episode: "Sweet & Sour Victory" |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | King Young-Jin | Episode: "The Little Mermaid" |
| 1997 | Stargate SG-1 | Turghan | Episode: "Emancipation" |
| 1998 | Poltergeist: The Legacy | Sam Tanaka | Episode: "The Internment" |
| 1998 | Vengeance Unlimited | Aung Myint | Episode: "Ambition" |
| 1999 | Seven Days | Peter | Episode: "Walter" |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Master Ko | Episode: "Black Dragons" |
| 2004 | Hawaii | Captain Terry Harada | |
| 2007 | Heroes | The Swordsmith | Episodes: "Chapter Six 'The Line'" and "Chapter Seven 'Out of Time'" |
| 2009 | Beyond the Break | Xander | Episodes: "One 'Elle' of a Party" and "Cast Away" |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Hiro Nashimori | Episodes: "Ke Kinoho" and "Pahele" |
| 2012–2013 | Revenge | Satoshi Takeda | 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Mortal Kombat: Legacy | Shang Tsung | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Teen Wolf | Katashi (Silverfinger) | Episode: "Silverfinger" |
| 2014 | The Librarians | Mr. Drake | Episode: "And the Apple of Discord" |
| 2015–present | The Man in the High Castle | Nobusuke Tagomi | main cast |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Soldier Boyz | Vinh Moc | |
| 2003 | Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu | Sin Tzu | |
| 2016 | Overwatch | Narrator | Episode: "Dragons" |
Bibliography
- Paul, Louis (2008). "Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa". Tales From the Cult Film Trenches; Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp. 254–261. ISBN 978-0-7864-2994-3.
References
- ↑ McCarthy, Todd (November 20, 2005). "Memoirs of a Geisha". Variety. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
- ↑ "'Slanted Screen' Rues The Absence Of Asians". The Washington Times. May 25, 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
- 1 2 Mortal Kombat’s Shang Tsung Goes Orthodox in Russia, rt.com, November 12, 2015.
- 1 2 Киноактер Кэри-Хироюки Тагава принял крещение с именем Пантелеимон, pravmir.ru; accessed March 30, 2016.
- ↑ Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa profile, filmreference.com; accessed March 30, 2016.
- ↑ Profile, starbulletin.com, May 25, 2011; accessed March 30, 2016.
- ↑ Profile, starbulletin.com, September 11, 2003; accessed March 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Web Series 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy 2′ Hitting February 17th". Latino Review. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
- ↑ Keck, William (August 15, 2012). "Keck's Exclusives: Revenge Recasts a Role" (TV Guide); retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ↑ "2015 Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival & Honoree Awards". YouTube. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "This is just the beginning of my Russian career", rbth.asia; accessed March 30, 2016.
- ↑ Крещение японского актера Кэри-Хироюки Тагавы началось в Москве, ria.ru; accessed March 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Американский актер Кэри-Хироюки Тагава получил российское гражданство - ИА REGNUM". ИА REGNUM (in Russian). 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ↑ Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Cast as Japanese Prime Minister in Ronald Reagan Biopic