Friday, November 25, 2005
Actor Pat Morita Dies at 73
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051125/ap_on_en_mo/obit_morita
Japanese-American performer who is best known as Arnold in the popular TV series "Happy Days" and as martial arts sage Mr. Miyagi in the popular "Karate Kid" films. Morita began his career doing stand-up, using stories about Japanese-American culture as a basis for his comedy, and opening for such acts as Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, and Diana Ross. He eventually graduated to headlining in Las Vegas showrooms, Playboy Clubs and Carnegie Hall, and made guest appearances on such early hit series as "M*A*S*H", "Love Boat" and "Magnum, P.I.", as well as being a frequent guest on variety and talk shows.
In series TV, Morita was a regular on "Sanford and Son" (NBC, 1974-75) playing Lamont's buddy Ah Chew but he gained enormous popularity when he landed the role of Arnold in the second season of Happy Days" (ABC, 1975-76), as owner of the malt shop where Fonzie and the gang hang out. Morita left the show to star in his own short-lived series "Mr. T and Tina" (ABC, 1976), becoming the first Japanese-American to star in series TV.
He made his feature acting debut in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967) and was regularly cast in supporting roles in comedies throughout the 1970s and early 80s, but it was the casting of Morita as Mr. Miyagi, the wise and peaceful martial arts master in "The Karate Kid" (1984), that marked a turning point in his career. His carefully calibrated performance was critically acclaimed and the film's wide audience appeal translated into three sequels and a new status for the actor. He went on to receive star billing in features like the buddy movie "Collision Course" (1990) where he teamed up with comic Jay Leno, and several other features that quickly disappeared. Director Gus Van Sant cast him as a medicine man in the ill-fated "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" (1993). In "The Next Karate Kid" (1994), a teenage girl replaced an aging Ralph Macchio.
Also Credited As:
Noriyuki Morita
Born:
on 06/28/30 in Isleton, California
Job Titles:
Actor, Comic, Data processor, Department head at an aerospace firm
Family
Daughters: has three from his two marriages
Significant Others
Wife: Evelyn Guerrero. married in 1995
Milestones
1967 Feature debut, "Thoroughly Modern Milie"
1969 TV debut as series regular, "The Queen and I"
1972 TV-movie debut, "A Very Missing Person"
1974 Regular in TV sitcom, "Sanford and Son"
1976 Star of own shortlived sitcom, "Mr T. And Tina"
1984 Co-starred in first of four feature series, "The Karate Kid"
1984 Won a Supporting Oscar nomination, "The Karate Kid"
1985 Debut in a TV miniseries, "Alice in Wonderland"
1987 Star of shortlived detective series, "Ohara"
1995 Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Became headliner in Las Vegas showrooms and Playboy Clubs
Began career as nightclub comedian opening for such acts as Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross and the Supremes
Regular on longrunning sitcom, "Happy Days"
Spent adolescence in WWII Japanese internment camp
Spent from two to nine years of age hospitalized with spinal tuberculosis
Voiceover for animated series, "The Karate Kid"
It was so sad to hear about the loss of Pat Morita. His touch went beyond a single generation. Our parents remember "arnold" and we will always charish "mr miagi"