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Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Actor · Died December 4, 2025, aged 75 · Tokyo, Japan

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (September 27, 1950 – December 4, 2025) was a Japanese-American actor, film producer, and martial artist. In addition to his extensive film work, 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 also 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 a soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung in a film adaptation of the video game Mortal Kombat and the evil mastermind Heihachi Mishima in the Tekken movie.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 27, 1950
Died
December 4, 2025 (aged 75)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
89 on MovieCove · 122 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's films like?

Across their 49 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action32 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 8th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
34%
Survival
18%
Bonds
18%
Self
13%
Power
10%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Survival20 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice14 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 47 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 16 · Serious 19 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 8

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 20 · Intense 23

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 20 · Shifting 25 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 29 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 10

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 30 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 41 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

34 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 16 of 34 analyzed roles.

Shadow
16 of 34
Mentor
8 of 34
Threshold guardian
5 of 34
Trickster
2 of 34
Ally
2 of 34
Herald
1 of 34
Show the 34 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
37
Thrilling
28
Dread
14
Melancholic
10
Hopeful
7
Other
28

How their films linger

Fun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous11

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 62 of their 89 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (31).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

122 credits, 89 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Blue Eye Samurai(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as The Swordmaker (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Looking in the Mirror(2019)

    as Henry

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Insert Coin(2020)

    as Shang Tsung

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Sky Sharks(2020)

    as Michael Morel

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • A Lover Scorned(2019)

    as Mr. Wong

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Lost in Space(2018)

    Show 5 episodes · as Hiroki Watanabe

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Star Wars Rebels: Heroes of Mandalore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Alrich Wren

  • DuckTales(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Akita (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Kubo and the Two Strings(2016)

    as Hashi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Showdown in Manila(2016)

    as Aldric Cole

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Honored Priest: Confession of a Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Nikolay

  • Genghis Khan Conquers the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Genghis Khan

  • Duel of Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Shing

  • Little Boy(2015)

    as Hashimoto

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Man with the Iron Fists 2(2015)

    as Lord Pi / Mayor Zhang

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Diamond Cartel(2015)

    as Khazar

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Man in the High Castle(2015)

    Show 30 episodes · as Nobusuke Tagomi

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond the Game(2016)

    as Detective Yoshida

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Librarians(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Drake

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Skin Trade(2014)

    as Senator Khat

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Star Wars: Rebels(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Alrich Wren (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Tekken 2: Kazuya's Revenge(2014)

    as Heihachi

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Ninja Apocalypse(2014)

    as Fumitaka

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Hype Nation 3D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • 47 Ronin(2013)

    as Shogun Tsunayoshi

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Sumo Kuma (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Black Cobra(2012)

    as Goro Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Grimm(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Takeshi Imura

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 6 episodes · as Satoshi Takeda

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Teen Wolf(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Katashi

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Mortal Kombat: Legacy(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shang Tsung

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hiro Noshimuri

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Tekken(2010)

    as Heihachi Mishima

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Tomb(2009)

    as Len Burris

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Craig Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hachi: A Dog's Tale(2009)

    as Ken

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • By the Will of Chingis Khan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as bodyguard

  • Projectorparishilton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ghost Voyage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as The Steward

  • Bodyguard: A New Beginning(2008)

    as Kai

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Balls Out: The Making of 'Balls of Fury' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Under the Balls: The Life of a Ball Wrangler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board(2007)

    as Grandpa Johnny Tsunami

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Balls of Fury(2007)

    as Mysterious Asian Man

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Ultimate Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Alibek

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Swordsmith

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo(2006)

    as Brushogun (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Memoirs of a Geisha(2005)

    as The Baron

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Sand Island Drive-In Anthem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Uncle C

  • Faith of My Fathers(2005)

    as Cat

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Elektra(2005)

    as Roshi

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 8 episodes · as Terry Harada

  • Fallacy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding(2003)

    as Mason Sato

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Planet of the Apes(2001)

    as Krull

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Pearl Harbor(2001)

    as Genda

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Chang

  • The Art of War(2000)

    as David Chan

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Snow Falling on Cedars(1999)

    as Zenhichi Miyamoto

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Tsunami(1999)

    as Johnny Tsunami

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Bridge of Dragons(1999)

    as General Ruechang

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Netforce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Leong Cheng

  • NetForce(1999)

    as Leong Cheng

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Vampires(1998)

    as David Deyo

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • American Dragons(1998)

    as Matsuyama

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Seven Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Provocateur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Captain Jong

  • Mortal Kombat: Annihilation(1997)

    as Shang Tsung (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Stargate SG-1(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Turghan

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Top of the World(1997)

    as Captain Hefter

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Tai Wai Tse

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Danger Zone(1996)

    as Monsieur Chang

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom(1996)

    as The Great Kabai Sengh

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • White Tiger(1996)

    as Victor Chow

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 8 episodes · as A.J. Shimamura

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Soldier Boyz(1995)

    as Vinh Moc

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Mortal Kombat(1995)

    as Shang Tsung

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Thunder in Paradise 3(1995)

    as Mason Lee

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Picture Bride(1994)

    as Kanzaki

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as King Young-Jin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Dangerous(1995)

    as Kon

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Cybill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenji

  • Natural Causes(1994)

    as Major Somchai

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Day of Reckoning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Prakit

  • Babylon 5(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Morishi

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Rising Sun(1993)

    as Eddie Sakamura

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Master Ko

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Space Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 6 episodes · as Zylyn

  • Nemesis(1992)

    as Angie-Liv

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Hirotaka

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Raven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Raven: Return of the Black Dragons(1992)

    as Osato

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • American Me(1992)

    as El Japo

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis(1991)

    as Hashimoto

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Showdown in Little Tokyo(1991)

    as Yoshida

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Weapon(1991)

    as Kai

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Not of This World(1991)

    as Shikido

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Kickboxer 2: The Road Back(1991)

    as Sanga

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Vestige of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Thai Major

  • Nasty Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Max

  • Murder in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Detective

  • Hardball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Last Warrior(1989)

    as Imperial Marine

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • L.A. Takedown(1989)

    as Hugh Benny

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Licence to Kill(1989)

    as Kwang

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Baywatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Sato

  • Twins(1988)

    as Oriental Man

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Superboy(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Spellbinder(1988)

    as Lt. Lee

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Bulletproof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Thug in Flashback (uncredited)

  • The Last Emperor(1987)

    as Chang

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Mandarin Bailiff

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Jake and the Fatman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Raymond Char

  • Armed Response(1986)

    as Toshi

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Wizard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Big Trouble in Little China(1986)

    as Wing Kong Man - Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Asian Buyer

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Artist

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenji Fujitsu · as Tegoro

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Chin

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Toyo

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Overwatch-Dragons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 122 titles, 121 of them dated from 1979 to 2023; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

Planet of the Apes (2001)

$362M worldwide

Highest rated

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Man in the High Castle (2015)

Film career

19792023

Peak 2015 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 20 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting122 of 122: 122 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42nd

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s19 · acting1990s43 · acting2000s25 · acting2010s29 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 47 roles
879297020712

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 24th percentile, the median of all 63; across their 47 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 24th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Approval · how many liked their films

18thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 89 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th35

Shape of the crowd

40 of their 89 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed40

Most divisive · actor

Beyond the Game (2016)

99th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 46/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 29. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's work okay for kids?

Across up to 19 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles41–96 · median 80 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity19 titles13–78 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles24–85 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles8–60 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles39–74 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tia Carrere shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles