Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was born on June 28, 1932 in Isleton, California. On November 24, 2005, Pat passed away in his Las Vegas residence. He was known as an American film and television actor who played the role Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days from 1975 to 1983. His most iconic role was when he played the part of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series that was popular in the 1980s. In 1985, Pat was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Mr. Miyagi.
When he played Kesuke Miyagi, he was cast as the mentor to Ralph Macchio's "Daniel-san”. Daniel was a troubled kid that needed guidance and found discipline through the teachings of his sensei. Before he got his big break, Pat had to act in many roles that he considered to be demeaning and insulting. There were not many roles for Asian men when he was trying to gain experience but he endured them until he caught his big break with Happy Days.
| Profession: | American film actor |
| Children: | Tia Morita, Aly Morita, Erin Morita |
| Date of Birth: | June 28, 1932 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Birth Place: | Isleton, CA |
| Net Worth 2021: | 5 million |
