Pat Morita Biography

Fast Facts

• Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994
• Received a lifetime achievement award from the Lincoln Center in New York
• Was "discovered" by comic Redd Foxx while performing stand-up
• Was a member of the improv comedy group The Groundlings
• Quote: "I don't know of any other creature, outside of pure animal lust, that falls in love and has their heart broken and falls in love again․"
• Quote: "Myself is what you see on stage, on film or for the camera in some way, in commercials, or you-name-it․ That's where I'm the most comfortable․"
• Is widely recognized for his role as Mr․ Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" franchise
• Suffered from spinal tuberculosis as a child, and was told that he would never walk
• Was detained in an internment camp during World War II
• As a natural-born American, he would portray a fake Japanese accent in many of his works