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In Remembrance: Pat Morita
Pat Morita, the character actor best remembered for his role as the
dry-witted karate sensei Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid series
of films, has passed away on November 24, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He was 73.
Born Noriyuki Morita on June 28,
1932 in Isleton, California, Morita spent part of his childhood
hospitalized, fighting spinal tuberculosis. Shortly after he
recovered, his family was interred in an Arizona
Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. Following the
war, his family relocated to Sacramento to run a restaurant, where
Morita made his first foray into show business entertaining
customers with standup comedy. Although he worked for a time as a
computer programmer, Morita eventually launched himself into standup
comedy full time, playing nightclubs under the nickname “The Hip
Nip.”
Morita made his first film appearance in a minor role in the
adaptation of the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie
in 1967. He followed this up with a slightly larger role in the Don
Knotts comedy The Shakiest Gun In The West (1968).
Through the early half of the 1970s, Morita kept busy guest starring
on several popular television series including The Odd Couple,
Love, American Style, M*A*S*H, and Sanford And Son,
before landing the role of Arnold, the owner of the local soda shop
on Happy Days. Morita also had small roles in such comedies
as Every Little Crook And Nanny and Cancel My Reservation
(1972). Although Morita concentrated on television work through the
rest of the decade, he did make an appearance in the World War II
historical epic Midway (1976).
In 1984, Morita landed the role of Kesuge Miyagi, an apartment
handyman who tutors troubled teen Ralph Macchio in karate in the
surprise hit film The Karate Kid. Due to his comedic
background, Miyagi was initial turned down for the role, but
eventually was awarded the role after he proved to be the best actor
who auditioned. Morita would earn an Academy Award nomination for
Best Supporting Actor while the film launched a franchise which
would last three more installments, all of which featured Morita.
Despite Morita’s Oscar nomination, Morita continued to land mostly
comic roles in such films as Honeymoon In Vegas (1992),
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues (1993) and Spy Hard (1996).
He also starred and authored the screenplay for the 1987 World War
II romantic-drama Captive Harts and provided the voice of
the Emperor for the Disney animated film Mulan (1998). |
