If you are a big fan of the sequel The Karate Kid, then Pat Morita is someone who will always be in your heart. He was the older man living in the basement who later taught the young body how to make the cool karate moves.
There is no denying that after watching that movie, every kid wanted to be The Karate Kid.
Along with this, his role as Mr.Miyagi boosted his career like no other. As a matter of fact, for this role, he was once listed among the nominees for the Oscar.
Image Source: Youtube
Sadly he was not able to take the biggest trophy in the academy home. It might be heartbreaking to many fans to know that this man is no longer with us.
Some of his outstanding movies happen to be Thoroughly Modern Millie. Green Acres, Columbo. Evil Roy Slade, Where Does It Hurt, The Odd Couple, Cancel My Reservation., Kung Fu, Happy Days, Love Boat, and When Time Ran Out, to mention some
In this article, we will let you know everything about Pat Morita. From where he was born to how he could make it in the movie industry, we will let you know them all.
Before all this, let’s take our time to learn about this actor through some quick facts;
Table of Contents
Pat Morita: Quick Facts
| Full Name | Noriyuki Morita |
| Nickname | The Hip Nip, Mr. Miyagi, Nori, Pat |
| Date of Birth | June 28, 1932. |
| Birth Place | Isleton, California, United States |
| Age | 73 years old |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Father’s Name | Tamaru Morita |
| Mother’s Name | Momoe Morita |
| Siblings | Hideo ‘Harry’ |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in or 160 cm |
| Weight | 65 kg or 143.5 lbs |
| Nationality | American |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Ethnicity | Asian |
| Body Measurements | Updating Soon |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Shoe Size | Updating Soon |
| Education | Armijo High School |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Last Update On | March 2023 |
Who Is Pat Morita? Where Was He Born?
This man was born Noriyuki “Pat” Morita in Isleton, California. He was born to his father, Tamaru, who later moved from Kyushu, Japan, to California, and his supportive mother, Momoe.
Apart from this, his family comprised a little brother named Hideo, aka Harry, who was twelve years older than Morita.
At the tender age of 2, Pat was diagnosed with tuberculosis. As a result, he was later admitted to the Weimar Institute in Weimer for about nine years.
Image Source: Showbiz Cheatsheet
Moving on, he was admitted to the Shriner Hospital located in San Francisco.
He met a priest who joked that his name would have been changed to Patrick Aloysius Ignatius Xavier Noriyuki Morita if he converted to Catholicism.
Similarly, at the age of 11, he had to go through spinal surgery, and luckily he was able to take a few steps.
Continuing his life, Pat went to Armijo High School. Later his family ran a Chinese restaurant. In the year 1956, this man lost his father in a case of hit & run.
Unfortunately, Pat’s mother could only handle the shop for four more years.
Pat Morita Cause of Death
This brilliant actor was declared dead in his hometown in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 24, 2005 at the age of 73. Although his daughter said that Pat died due to heart failure at Las Vegas hospital, some controversy is still in the media regarding his death.
In addition to this, his manager Arnold Soloway has reported that the reason behind Pat’s demise was a Kidney failure.
He was waiting to get his kidney transplanted and suddenly died at the hospital.
Furthermore, he struggled with alcoholism all his life.
Pat Morita Obituary
This talented actor passed in the year 2005. The world was left in shock after the untimely demise of the actor. Pat Morita funeral was an attraction piece for a very long time.
His co-star Ralph Macchio went on to give a memorable speech at Morita’s funeral.
Macchio remembered his skill set of Pat and how brilliantly he did the job in front of the camera. Ralph also added that Pat helped him to be a better actor.
The last rites memorial was held in Las Vegas for Pat Morita which was attended by some very close friends.
What’s interesting is the fact that the family of Morita wanted the memorable speech to be done by Ralph Macchio.
Ralph was hesitant to accept the offer at first as he felt Morita’s brother would be a perfect fit.
After giving it a lot of thought, Ralph agreed on giving the speech at the memorial. In the end, he gave speeches at two different places.
Most of the time, Ralph was emotionally abounded in the middle of addressing the actor.
Pat Morita Age and Height
There is no denying that this artificial name is a Sensei in the famous series of The Karate Kid. However, in real life, he was never a student of Karate. As a matter of fact, he learned some of the moves for his famous role as Mr. Miyagi.
Image Source: People
This Japanese-American man was born in the year of 1932. Likewise, he celebrated his birthday every year on 28 June and fell under the star sign of Cancer. Pat Morita height is 5 ft 3 inches.
In addition to this, Morita had a bodyweight of 143.5 pounds or 64 kg in general. The most distinctive feature of this man was his chinky eyes, goatee, and black frizzy hair. Despite this, he had luscious black hair during his youth.
Pat Morita Films
- Before becoming an actor, Pat was active as a stand-up comedian. He used to share his jokes in restaurants.
- In 1968, he made a debut in the movie named Thoroughly Modern Millie. However, it was a small role that boosted his self-esteem.
- He portrayed the role of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid juxtaposed with fellow actor Ralph Macchio who appeared as Daniel-san.
- After a year, he was cast in The Shakiest Gun in The West. In the movie, he was able to work alongside Don Knotts.
- Surprisingly he was seen in the Sandford and Son from 1974 to 1976.
- In 1994, Pat was replaced by Hilary Swank in The Next Karate Kid.
- Some of his blockbuster movies are Cancel My Reservation., Kung Fu, Happy Days, Love Boar, and When Time Ran Out Thoroughly Modern Millie. Green Acres, Columbo. Evil Roy Slade, Where Does It Hurt, and The Odd Couple, amongst others.
Pat Morita Documentary
Morita is one of the finest actors in the industry. His contributions to the acting world have been brilliant to talk about. Morita in his prime has done some brilliant work. Pat Morita documentary in the meantime has gained quite a popularity.
It is titled More than Miyagi: The Pat Morita story. This particular documentary has been directed by Kayvon Derakshanian with the archive footage of Pat Morita present in it.
Did Pat Morita Have Any Kids? Who Is Pat Morita Wife?
A man of class and stature, Pat was a very handsome man who captivated the attention of beautiful women in his life. He had not only married once but thrice in his lifetime.
His first wife was Kathleen Yamauchi. They spend approximately about 14 years of their life with each other.
The pair decided to part their way in 1967. Similarly, his second love happens to be the beautiful Yukiye Kitahara. They tied the knot with another in the year 1970. Their immense love for each other grew, even more, with each passing time.
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Although everything was going well between them, they decided to par off their ways in 1989 after being together for 19 years. It is said that the third time is a charm, and for Pat, it was surely the most beautiful thing in his life.
Image Source: Heavy
He felt love in love with another lady named Evelyn Guerrero.
In 1994 they decided to take their love to the whole next level and get married. Unlike the previous relationships, they never had a dispute, and only Morita’s death made them apart. Surprisingly this lovey-dovey couple never had a child together.
Pat Morita Kids
The kids of Pat Morita is an interesting topic to talk about. He had a total of three kids in his lifetime. His first wife Kathleen had their first daughter Erin Morita in the year 1954. Even with such a strong bond, they separated.
Similarly, the second wife was lucky for him as she gave birth to two beautiful daughters. Kitahara and Pat share two kids, Aly Morita and Tia Morita. Both of them are far from the limelight at the moment. As the two kids came through, their love strengthened.
What Is Pat Morita Net Worth 2023?
Pat established his name as an actor in the Hollywood industry. He spent four decades of his life contributing to several aspects of entertainment.
According to celebrity net worth Pat Morita net worth in 2023 is $5 million. All of this is the result of his work in movies and TV shows.
There is no denying that his fame and publicity were all thanks to the famous movie franchise of The Karate Kid. In addition to this, there is hardly any information about his salary and other expenditure.
Interesting Facts About Pat Morita
- At the age of 2, Morita was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was hospitalized until he was 11 years old.
- He spent nine years of his life in the hospital, and the doctor even suggested that he would never be able to walk again,
- At a very young age, he went through surgery and later learned to walk.
- His brother was 12 years old younger than Pat.
- After World War, he used to amuse his customers with hilarious jokes. He and his mother ran a restaurant in Sacramento, California, named Ariake Chop Suey.
FAQ
How did Pat Morita die?
Pat Morita died due to kidney failure.
Was Pat Morita actually a martial artist?
No Pat Morita wasnt an actual martial artist.
