Pat Morita was an American actor and comedian best known for playing Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series. Born Noriyuki Morita on June 28, 1932, in California, he also gained recognition as Arnold Takahashi on Happy Days and appeared in Sanford and Son, MASH*, Ohara, and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Morita received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Karate Kid and died on November 24, 2005, aged 73.
Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Noriyuki Morita |
| Date of Birth | June 28, 1932 |
| Birthplace | Isleton, California, United States |
| Profession | Actor, Comedian |
| Best Known For | Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid |
| Notable TV Role | Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi in Happy Days |
| Years Active | 1962–2005 |
| Date of Death | November 24, 2005 |
| Place of Death | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Age at Death | 73 |
Family Tree
| Relation | Name |
| Father | Tamaru Morita |
| Mother | Momoe Morita |
| Brother | Hideo “Harry” Morita |
| Ex-Wives | Kathleen Yamachi, Yukiye Kitahara |
| Wife | Evelyn Guerrero |
| Daughters | Erin Morita, Aly Morita, Tia Morita |
Career Highlights
- Played Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984), the role that earned him an Academy Award nomination.
- Portrayed Arnold Takahashi on Happy Days and starred in the television series Mr. T and Tina and Ohara.
- Voiced the Emperor of China in Disney’s Mulan (1998).
Awards
- Academy Award nomination: Best Supporting Actor for The Karate Kid (1985).
- Hollywood Walk of Fame star: Received in 1994 for his contributions to the motion picture industry.
