Pat Morita Dies Aged 73
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Pat Morita, who portrayed the Karate master Kesuke Miyagi in The Karate Kid died peacefully of natural causes on November 26th 2005. He overcame illness & racial prejudice to become cinema's foremost Japanese-American actor. He played the iconic role of the wise mentor who teaches Ralph Macchio about the trials of life through the study of Karate in the classic 1984 film The Karate Kid. He was nominated for an Oscar in this role and the film went on to deliver three sequels.
Although best known for this role, Pat Morita also played numerous parts in many other famous works including Happy Days, Honeymoon In Vegas & Disney's Mulan. His entire career output spanned over 100 movies & TV roles. Indeed he was the first Japanese-American to have a lead role in a TV series.
Pat was born Noriyuki Morita in California in 1932 to migrant fruit-picker parents. He contracted spinal TB as an infant and overcame the disease despite fears he would never walk again. His first career was as a stand-up comic, and he made his film debut as an oriental villan in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 1967.
We are sure the martial arts community will join with us in offering condolences to his surviving family, and our grateful thanks for his sympathetic portrayal of an ideal many of us aspire to. Rest in peace.
- Author: Lee Heron
- Sources: National press & internet
