29/06/2023
Remembering the late Actor Pat Morita.
28th June 1932 - 24th November 2005.
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was a Japanese-American actor and comedian. He was best known for his roles as Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days, Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series, Captain Sam Pak on the comedy series M*A*S*H, Ah Chew in Sanford and Son, Mike Woo in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and The Emperor of China in Mulan and Mulan II. He was the series lead actor in the television program Mr. T and Tina and in Ohara, a police-themed drama. The two shows made history for being among the few TV shows with an Asian-American series lead.
ABOUT
Actor best known for his Academy Award-nominated performance as Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid franchise. He also appeared in Happy Days.
BEFORE FAME
At two, he contracted tuberculosis. He was initially told that he would never walk. Later, he entertained customers at his parents' restaurant with jokes.
TRIVIA
In 1976, he was cast as the lead in the TV series Mr. T and Tina and is considered the first Asian actor to serve as the lead actor in an American sitcom. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled in the middle of its first season.
FAMILY LIFE
He was married to Kathleen Yamachi from 1953 to 1967. After their divorce, he married Yukiye Kitahara in 1970. He met his third wife through her mother's manager when she was 15 years old.
ASSOCIATED WITH
He starred alongside Ralph Macchio in the Karate Kid films.
