Pat Morita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Morita
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Morita in 1971
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| Born |
Noriyuki Morita
June 28, 1932 Isleton, California, U.S.
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| Died | November 24, 2005 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–2005 (his death) |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathleen Yamachi
(m. 1953; div. 1967)Yukiye Kitahara
(m. 1970; div. 1989)Evelyn Guerrero
(m. 1994; |
| Children | 3 |
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (born June 28, 1932 – died November 24, 2005) was a famous American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid movies. He also played Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on the TV show Happy Days.
Pat Morita was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985 for his role as Mr. Miyagi. He also lent his voice to the Emperor of China in the Disney animated movie Mulan (1998). Another role was Ah Chew in the TV show Sanford and Son.
Morita was the main actor in two TV shows: Mr. T and Tina (1976) and Ohara (1987–1988). These shows were important because they were among the first TV shows to have an Asian American as the main star.
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Pat Morita's Early Life
Pat Morita was born in Isleton, California. His father, Tamaru, came to California from Japan in 1915. His mother, Momoe, also came from Japan in 1913. Pat had an older brother named Hideo.
When Pat was two years old, he got a serious illness called spinal tuberculosis. He spent nine years in hospitals, often wrapped in a full-body cast. Doctors told him he might never walk again. While in the hospital, he became friends with a priest who joked about renaming him "Patrick."
At age 11, after surgery, Pat learned to walk again. Right after leaving the hospital, he was sent to the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona. This was a camp where Japanese American families were held during World War II. After some time, he was moved to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center.
After the war, Pat's family opened a restaurant in Sacramento, California. Pat would entertain customers with jokes and act as a host for dinners.
Becoming an Actor and Comedian
After finishing high school, Pat Morita started working as a stand-up comedian. He chose the stage name "Pat Morita" partly because of the priest he met as a child. He worked hard for many years to become a successful comedian.
He sometimes opened shows for famous singers like Vic Damone. He also learned a lot from comedian Redd Foxx. Foxx later gave him a role on his TV show Sanford and Son in the early 1970s.
Television and Movie Roles
First Acting Jobs
Pat Morita's first movie roles were small parts in films like Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). He also had a recurring role as Captain Sam Pak on the TV show M*A*S*H (1973, 1974). These roles helped him get more acting jobs. He also played a role in the war movie Midway (1976).
Pat Morita became well-known for his role as Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on the TV show Happy Days. He owned the diner called Arnold's. He was on the show during its third season (1975–1976) and came back for guest appearances later.
After Happy Days, he starred in his own show, Mr. T and Tina. This was the first TV show on a major network to have an Asian American lead actor. However, the show was canceled quickly. Morita later returned to Happy Days for its final season. He also had a recurring role on Sanford and Son as Ah Chew, a friend of Lamont Sanford.
The Karate Kid Movies
Pat Morita became very famous for playing the wise karate teacher, Mr. Miyagi. In The Karate Kid movies, Mr. Miyagi teaches young Daniel-san (Ralph Macchio) the art of Goju-ryu karate.
Morita was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the first Karate Kid movie. He played Mr. Miyagi in three more movies: The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and The Next Karate Kid (1994). In the last movie, Hilary Swank starred instead of Ralph Macchio. Even though he wasn't a karate student himself, he learned everything needed for the films.
After The Karate Kid
After The Karate Kid, Pat Morita continued to act in many projects. He played Tommy Tanaka in the TV movie Amos, which earned him another award nomination. He then starred in the detective TV show Ohara (1987–1988).
Morita also hosted an educational video series called Britannica's Tales Around the World. Later, he starred in the Nickelodeon TV series The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo (1996–1998). He also made guest appearances on shows like Married... with Children.
He voiced the Emperor of China in Disney's animated movie Mulan (1998). He voiced the Emperor again in the video game Kingdom Hearts II and the movie Mulan II (2004).
One of Pat Morita's last TV roles was as Master Udon in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants called "Karate Island" in 2006. This episode was dedicated to him after he passed away. He also appeared in the independent film Only the Brave (2006). His last movie was Royal Kill (2009).
Death
Pat Morita passed away on November 24, 2005, at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 73 years old and died from kidney failure. He was survived by his wife, Evelyn, and his three daughters.
Images for kids
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The handprints of Pat Morita in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park
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See also
In Spanish: Pat Morita para niños
