jkdberlin
26-11-2005, 08:17
Pat Morita, 'Karate Kid's' Mr. Miyagi, dies
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Actor Pat Morita, whose portrayal of
the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" earned him an
Oscar nomination, has died. He was 73.
Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes, said
his wife of 12 years, Evelyn. She said in a statement that her husband,
who first rose to fame with a role on "Happy Days," had "dedicated his
entire life to acting and comedy."
In 1984, he appeared in the role that would define his career and spawn
countless affectionate imitations. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to
Ralph Macchio's "Daniel-san," he taught karate while trying to catch
flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as "wax on, wax off" to
guide Daniel through chores to improve his skills.
Morita said in a 1986 interview with The Associated Press he was billed
as Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in the film because producer Jerry Weintraub
wanted him to sound more ethnic. He said he used the billing because it
was "the only name my parents gave me."
He lost the 1984 best supporting actor award to Haing S. Ngor, who
appeared in "The Killing Fields."
For years, Morita played small and sometimes demeaning roles in such
films as "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and TV series such as "The Odd
Couple" and "Green Acres." His first breakthrough came with "Happy
Days," and he followed with his own brief series, "Mr. T and Tina."
"The Karate Kid," led to three sequels, the last of which, 1994's "The
Next Karate Kid," paired him with a young Hilary Swank.
Morita was prolific outside of the "Karate Kid" series as well,
appearing in "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Spy Hard," "Even Cowgirls Get the
Blues" and "The Center of the World." He also provided the voice for a
character in the Disney movie "Mulan" in 1998.
Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit
pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with
spinal tuberculosis. He later recovered only to be sent to a
Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.
"One day I was an invalid," he recalled in a 1989 AP interview. "The
next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp
by an FBI agent wearing a piece."
After the war, Morita's family tried to repair their finances by
operating a Sacramento restaurant. It was there that Morita first tried
his comedy on patrons.
Because prospects for a Japanese-American standup comic seemed poor,
Morita found steady work in computers at Aerojet General. But at age 30
he entered show business full time.
"Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did," he
commented. "If I tried it in Japan before the war, it would have been
considered blasphemy, and I would have ended in leg irons. "
Morita was to be buried at Palm Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters from a previous
marriage.
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Actor Pat Morita, whose portrayal of
the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" earned him an
Oscar nomination, has died. He was 73.
Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes, said
his wife of 12 years, Evelyn. She said in a statement that her husband,
who first rose to fame with a role on "Happy Days," had "dedicated his
entire life to acting and comedy."
In 1984, he appeared in the role that would define his career and spawn
countless affectionate imitations. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to
Ralph Macchio's "Daniel-san," he taught karate while trying to catch
flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as "wax on, wax off" to
guide Daniel through chores to improve his skills.
Morita said in a 1986 interview with The Associated Press he was billed
as Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in the film because producer Jerry Weintraub
wanted him to sound more ethnic. He said he used the billing because it
was "the only name my parents gave me."
He lost the 1984 best supporting actor award to Haing S. Ngor, who
appeared in "The Killing Fields."
For years, Morita played small and sometimes demeaning roles in such
films as "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and TV series such as "The Odd
Couple" and "Green Acres." His first breakthrough came with "Happy
Days," and he followed with his own brief series, "Mr. T and Tina."
"The Karate Kid," led to three sequels, the last of which, 1994's "The
Next Karate Kid," paired him with a young Hilary Swank.
Morita was prolific outside of the "Karate Kid" series as well,
appearing in "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Spy Hard," "Even Cowgirls Get the
Blues" and "The Center of the World." He also provided the voice for a
character in the Disney movie "Mulan" in 1998.
Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit
pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with
spinal tuberculosis. He later recovered only to be sent to a
Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.
"One day I was an invalid," he recalled in a 1989 AP interview. "The
next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp
by an FBI agent wearing a piece."
After the war, Morita's family tried to repair their finances by
operating a Sacramento restaurant. It was there that Morita first tried
his comedy on patrons.
Because prospects for a Japanese-American standup comic seemed poor,
Morita found steady work in computers at Aerojet General. But at age 30
he entered show business full time.
"Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did," he
commented. "If I tried it in Japan before the war, it would have been
considered blasphemy, and I would have ended in leg irons. "
Morita was to be buried at Palm Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters from a previous
marriage.