"Forever my Sensei"

Posted on | November 30, 2005 | No Comments

LOS ANGELES – Actor
Pat Morita, best known for helping teach a boy martial-arts mastery through household chores as the wise Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” has died. He was 73.

There were conflicting reports about the cause of death. His daughter Aly Morita said he died Thursday of heart failure at a Las Vegas hospital; longtime manager Arnold Soloway said the actor died of kidney failure at a hospital while awaiting a transplant.

His wife of 12 years, Evelyn, said in a statement that her husband, who first rose to fame with a role on “Happy Days,” had “dedicated his entire life to acting and comedy.”

His role in the 1984 film defined his career. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to Ralph Macchio’s “Daniel-san,” he taught karate while trying to catch flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as “wax on, wax off” to help Daniel improve his karate hand movements while doing his chores.

A generation of young fans mimicked Morita’s famous “crane kick” technique from the finale of the movie, which surprised many by grossing $91 million and establishing a popular franchise.

“It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him and create a bit of cinema magic together,” Macchio said in a statement. “My life is all the richer for having known him. I will miss his genuine friendship.”

“Forever my Sensei,” Macchio added, referring to Morita’s role in “The Karate Kid.”