Mr. Miyagi Has Died

Pat Morita well know for his role has Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid has died, in his Las Vegas home on Thursday, November 24, 2005 of natural causes. He leaves behind his second wife, actress Evelyn Guerrero, and three daughters from his previous marriage to Yuki Morita-Scott.

He started his career has a standup comedy and was discovered by Redd Foxx, who later helped him get a guest role on Sanford and Son. He would have to wait years later until his breakthrough role Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi in Happy Days. Mr. Morita role in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid.

The Karate Kid movie has even earned him an Oscar nominated for supporting actor. He reprised his portrayal of "Mr. Miyagi" in three other sequels, including the 1994 movie The Next Karate Kid starring Hilary Swank. He also started in an action movie with Jay Leno called Collision Course in 1989. Pat Morita well been remembered has one of the most welled liked Japanese-American actors in American pop culture. Rest in Peace Pat Morita.

More on Pat Morita here and here and here.