Actor-activist-Japanese-American community personality Rodney Kageyama has died in his sleep. He was 77. He passed away early on December 9, according to his spouse, reports deadline.com. Kageyama had major roles in "Karate Kid IV" with Hilary Swank, the Ron Howard film "Gung Ho" and the sitcom based on the film that followed, and TV movie "Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes". He was a member of SAG and Actors Equity.

In addition to numerous roles in film and television, Kageyama became a well-known community activist, regularly emceeing in the Little Tokyo neighbourhood of downtown Los Angeles, as well as being a voice promoting the need for more Asian-Americans in the media.