November 24, 2005 will forever live in infamy. It will come to be known by all Americans born in the 1980’s as the day Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki Morita) passed.

Unfortunately, his death was not devised from cinema like The Karate Kid, Part V, where Daniel-san, upset that he still lives with his mom, accidentally drives over Mr. Miyagi on a drunken rampage. Rather, it is the sad reality that marks the end of a prolific career of one American with all the odds against him.

Noriyuki “Pat” Morita was born to proud parents on June 28, 1932, in Iselton, a northern California town. He spent a portion of his childhood battling a racially sensitive America and Spinal Tuberculosis. Morita spent his time in a full body cast in a sterilized hospital. When he was released, during the height of WWII, he was hastily shipped to a Japanese American Internment Camp in Arizona.

“One day I was an invalid,” said Morita in a 1989 Associated Press interview. “The next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp by an FBI agent wearing a piece.”

Later in life, Morita got by working with computers until, at the age of 30, he decided to get into show business—particularly stand-up comedy. Known as the Hip Nip around bars and comedy clubs, Morita presented his unique style of comedy, which he admits would have had him castigated back in Japan.

His comedy, however, landed him an appearance on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. From there, he made other guest appearances on popular shows at the time.

Playing Arnold, owner of Arnold’s restaurant on TV’s Happy Days in the mid-‘70s gave his career the boost it needed.

Today, his career spans through five decades and his film and television credits are in the triple digits. But it was his legendary role in 1984 as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi in The Karate Kid that sealed himself in the hallowed zeitgeist of the 1980’s.

The Karate Kid gave Morita an Oscar nomination—a first for any Asian American actor. Not only that, but his character inoculated our generation to inane, hard to forget clichés; can you say “wax on, wax off”?

What will stay in my generation’s mind about Morita was his penchant to take in an annoying youngster and show him how to kick some major badass butt with the Flying Dragon. He also proved that it is perfectly okay for a younger, consenting man to have a physical relationship with a caring, older gentleman.

When that youngster, Daniel-san, (Ralph Macchio) heard of his mentor’s passing, he issued this statement:

“Pat Morita was a truly generous actor, a gifted comic, and an even greater friend. It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him and create a bit of cinema magic together.”

The generosity that Macchio notes was quite evident.

Morita donated his voice to Disney’s Mulan and Mulan II. Even after filming four Karate Kids—in the last of which Morita got to see Hilary Swank’s cans—he still did not feel above his sensei role. Ten full years after filming the final Karate Kid, Morita took on a part in 2004’s The Karate Dog, with his friends Jon Voight and Chevy Chase.

The film did not do as well as the original Karate Kid, which grossed in the top ten films of 1984, but that is to be expected. When a computer expert has to solve a crime mystery in Chinatown with only a dog as a witness, it’s bound to be bad.

No matter, people will always remember the talented actor for his biggest role, Mr. Miyagi, and will be forever grateful for his inspiration in taking about six weeks of Karate lessons.

Sayounara.

Acting Credits - Credited As

Happy Days (1974) TV Series - Matsuo ‘Arnold’ Takahasha

The Karate Kid (1984) - Mr. Miyagi

The Karate Kid, Part II (1986) - Mr. Miyagi

Babes in Toyland (1986) (TV) - The Toymaster

The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) - Mr. Miyagi

Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies (1993) - Chief Koal

The Next Karate Kid (1994) - Mr. Miyagi

Mulan II (2004) - Voice of Emperor

Elvis Has Left the Building (2004) - Man in turban

Extra Credits

First on-screen film appearance was in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

Guest starred on Magnum P.I. (1986), Murder She Wrote (1984),

and Baywatch (1989).

Was a fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Owned a Japanese-style restaurant called Miyagi’s on Sunset Blvd.

in Hollywood, CA.