oneeightyone Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 Actor Pat Morita Dies at 73 By TIM MOLLOY, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 29 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeking Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 my friends hung out wiith him in vegas once, drunk at a bar. i wasn't there. respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Morris Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 thats no good...RIP mr Miyagi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RumPuncher Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 wax on, wax off...... unfuckwithable legend status Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GamblersGrin Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 just heard. damn. a very genial man. rip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Birch Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 it always happens in threes...ugly dog, pat morita, whos next???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CACashRefund Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 rest in peace pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Birch Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 shit george best died too, thats 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunm Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 That's just too sad man Wax on, wax off you'll be remember Pat Morita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dumy Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 RIP Mr. Morita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swif1 Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Plaid Fill-ins Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 R.I.P. Sensei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest uncle-boy Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 rest in peace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Feets Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 RIP.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DREDZ Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 superguy...rip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Jefe Uno Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 RIP :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intangible Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kr430n5_666 Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 that man was a good one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KING BLING Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thought Wrong Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyHorton Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 can someone ban this retard already ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crackhouserocks Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 rest in paradise, my friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kr430n5_666 Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackfatsoe Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Originally posted by JohnnyHorton@Nov 25 2005, 07:39 PM can someone ban this retard already ? Quoted post who? Rest in Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KING BLING Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Mr. Miyagi is hereby banned from this earthly plain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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