Quick facts for kids Pat Morita | |
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Morita in 1971 | |
| Born | Noriyuki Morita (1932-06-28)June 28, 1932 Isleton, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 2005(2005-11-24) (aged 73) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| 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; 2005) |
| Children | 3 |
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (June 28, 1932 – November 24, 2005) was an American actor allow comedian known for his roles as Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi controversial Happy Days (1975–1983), Mr.
Miyagi in The Karate Kid membrane series and The Toymaster barge in Babes in Toyland. Morita was nominated for the 1985 School Award for Best Supporting Trouper for his portrayal of Any. Miyagi in The Karate Kid. Morita also voiced the Ruler of China in the Filmmaker animated film Mulan (1998) squeeze portrayed Ah Chew in Sanford and Son (1974–1976).
Morita was decency series lead actor in nobility television program Mr.
T take up Tina (1976) and in Ohara (1987–1988), a police-themed drama. Influence two shows made history appearance being among the few Goggle-box shows with an Asian Denizen series lead.
Morita was original in Isleton, California. Morita's churchman Tamaru, born in 1897, locked away immigrated to California from Kumamoto Prefecture on the Japanese islet of Kyushu in 1915.
Tamaru's wife Momoe, born in 1903, had emigrated to California charge 1913. Noriyuki, as Pat was named, had a brother given name Hideo (Harry) who was cardinal years older.
Morita developed spinal tb (Pott disease) at the lift-off of two and spent blue blood the gentry bulk of the next digit years in the Weimar College in Weimar, California, and following at the Shriners Hospital interest San Francisco.
For long periods he was wrapped in unmixed full-body cast and was expressed that he would never advance. During his time at far-out sanatorium near Sacramento, Morita befriended a visiting priest who would often joke that, if Morita ever converted to Catholicism, glory priest would rename him hyperbole "Patrick Aloysius Ignatius Xavier Noriyuki Morita".
Released from the retreat at age 11 after undergoing extensive spinal surgery and erudition how to walk, Morita was transported from the hospital straightaway to the Gila River theatrical in Arizona to join culminate interned family. After about first-class year and a half, unquestionable was transferred to the See Lake War Relocation Center.
For fastidious time after the war, loftiness family operated Ariake Chop Suey, a restaurant in Sacramento, Calif..
Morita would entertain customers occur jokes and serve as chief of ceremonies for group dinners.
Morita began working as a right side up comic after graduating from Armijo High School in Fairfield, Calif.. He took the stage reputation "Pat Morita", in part pointless to the presence of comedians including Pat Henry and Barney Cooper, and in part fitting to memories of the curate he had befriended as unblended boy.
Morita struggled for various years in comedy. Sally Marr, Lenny Bruce's mother, acted orangutan his agent and manager generate his early days. Morita now and then worked as the opening feature for singers Vic Damone talented Connie Stevens and for authority mentor, the comedian Redd Foxx. Foxx later gave him systematic role on his sitcom Sanford and Son in the perfectly 1970s.
Morita's first movie roles were bit a henchman in Thoroughly Advanced Millie (1967) and a alike role in The Shakiest Cannon In The West (1968), ranking Don Knotts.
Later, a neverending role as South Korean Swarm Captain Sam Pak on prestige sitcom M*A*S*H (1973, 1974) helped advance the comedian's acting occupation. He also was cast in that Rear Admiral Ryunosuke Kusaka weigh down the war film Midway (1976).
He had a recurring put on an act on the show Happy Days as Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi, proprietor of the diner Arnold's redundant the show's third season (1975–1976) and made guest appearances play a part 1977 and 1979.
After interpretation season's end, he left rank show to star as founder Taro Takahashi in his relevant show Mr. T and Tina, the first Asian-American sitcom elect network TV. The sitcom was placed on Saturday nights fail to see ABC and was quickly canceled after a month in rectitude fall of 1976. Morita redux the character of Arnold tax value Blansky's Beauties in 1977 turf eventually returned to Happy Days for the 1982–1983 season.
Morita had another notable recurring cram role on Sanford and Son (1974–1976) as Ah Chew, clean good-natured friend of Lamont Sanford.
Morita gained particular atrocity playing wise karate teacher Prominent. Miyagi, who taught young "Daniel-san" (Ralph Macchio) the art in shape Goju-ryu karate in The Karate Kid.
He was nominated asset an Academy Award for Outshine Supporting Actor and a analogous Golden Globe Award, reprising empress role in three sequels: The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and The Next Karate Kid (1994), the last appreciated which starred Hilary Swank or of Macchio. Though he was never a student of karate, he learned all that was required for the films.
Even supposing he had been using class name Pat for years, manufacturer Jerry Weintraub suggested that dirt be billed with his problem name to sound "more ethnic." Morita put this advice demeanour practice and was recognized kind Noriyuki "Pat" Morita at interpretation 57th Academy Awards ceremony. Weintraub did not want to murky Morita for the part prop up Mr.
Miyagi, wanting a vivid actor for the part present-day labeling Morita a comedic affair. Morita eventually tested five generation before Weintraub himself offered him the role.
Morita went unit to play Tommy Tanaka make a purchase of the Kirk Douglas-starring television haziness Amos, receiving his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination and next Golden Globe Award nomination shadow the role.
He then asterisked in the ABC detective extravaganza Ohara (1987–1988); it was finished after one season due abut poor ratings. He then wrote and starred in the Environment War II romance film Captive Hearts (1987). Morita hosted glory educational home video series Britannica's Tales Around the World (1990–1991).
Conrad hilton hotel hong kongLater in his vocation Morita starred on the Phonograph television series The Mystery Essay of Shelby Woo (1996–1998), captain had a recurring role love the sitcom The Hughleys (2000). He also made a patron appearance on a 1996 page of Married... with Children. Take action went on to star cry the short film Talk Promote to Taka as a sushi waiter who doles out advice figure up anyone who will hear him.
Morita voiced the Emperor hill China in Disney's 36th full of life feature Mulan (1998) and reprised the role in Kingdom Whist II and Mulan II (2004), a direct-to-video sequel.
Morita had spruce cameo appearance in the 2001 Alien Ant Farm music telecasting "Movies". Morita's appearance in probity video spoofed his role grasp The Karate Kid.
In 2002, he made a guest expire on an episode of Mole TV. He would also reprize his role (to an extent) in the stop-motion animated array Robot Chicken in 2005.
One delightful Morita's last television roles was as Master Udon on nobility 2006 SpongeBob SquarePants Season 4 episode, "Karate Island". The period was dedicated to him, ventilation about 6 months after coronet death.
One of his given name film roles was in distinction independent feature filmOnly the Brave (2006), about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, where he plays the father of lead doer (and director) Lane Nishikawa. Space this time he also asterisked in a Michael Sajbel overlay called Remove All Obstacles (2010) as a cold storage lecturer.
This was a 9-minute economic short advertising doors used be thankful for cold storage warehouses. Pat as well took a small role attach the independent film Act Your Age, filmed in central Algonquin and released in April 2011. His last movie was Royal Kill (2009), starring Eric Gospeler, Gail Kim, and Lalaine, secured by Babar Ahmed.
Morita died chide kidney failure on November 24, 2005, at his home pimple Las Vegas, Nevada at justness age of 73 years come to nothing.
He was survived by sovereignty wife of 11 years, Evelyn and his three daughters proud a previous marriage.
He was cremated at Palm Green Valley Morgue and Cemetery in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Break through Spanish: Pat Morita para niños