"Pat" Morita -- of "Karate Kid" fame -- Dead @ 73

Dyre Straits · Nov 26, 2005, 07:25 AM

Just now found this out. He'll be greatly missed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051125/...HE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Falstaff · Nov 26, 2005, 08:01 AM

One of many successful Japanese Americans that survived illegal internment and rose above the stereotypes. I always enjoyed his characterization of the Sensei opposite Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid. In college I did research into American born people of Japanese descent and found his name on a list of people who contributed writings and testimony about the conditions in our own camps during WWII. He found tremendous racial predjudice and rose to prominence through his own. As an actor I thought he should have been given greater credit during the Academy awards not as an Asian, which is his ancestery but because he was capable of many different roles and excelled at all of them. Hollywood provided oppurtunities, but also created limits. I would have looked forward to him in a sequel in the future, but then life is about change isnt it.....
Goodbye Tomodachi
Domo Arigato Gozimus Sensei
Se bishi......

CDsDontBurn · Nov 26, 2005, 09:21 AM

so sad. he seemed so humble in his life.

tuco99 · Nov 26, 2005, 11:24 AM

Wax on, Wax off daniel son.

Drakon · Nov 26, 2005, 04:16 PM

He will be missed

GutterPunk · Nov 26, 2005, 04:23 PM

Thats sad... RiP

The_Neon_Cowboy · Nov 26, 2005, 05:14 PM

for those who are going "who"?
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ch&sa=N&tab=wi
you can find his likeness on google images....

Sad!

…every time someone dies we are reminded of our own mortality

**MIG-31** · Nov 26, 2005, 05:46 PM

Sad news tin a short time... first Goerge Best... (always seems to come in threes!)

But can't help but think he were overshadowed by a kid (Ralph Macchio) who simply can not act!

Goodbye to one of the better known Japanese actors...

riles9262 · Nov 26, 2005, 06:35 PM

rip mr miyagi

I loved the karate kid when I was young.

Falstaff · Nov 26, 2005, 09:02 PM

Ironically, he was never type cast in any other role except as a Japanese person, although many Korean and Chinese actors are expected to play other asian roles, he typically avoided it, that was limiting for sure, but his humour was warming and came through. He has a Cheshire cat smile and a quick wit, that much I will miss.

Nov 26, 2005, 08:01 AM	#2
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	One of many successful Japanese Americans that survived illegal internment and rose above the stereotypes. I always enjoyed his characterization of the Sensei opposite Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid. In college I did research into American born people of Japanese descent and found his name on a list of people who contributed writings and testimony about the conditions in our own camps during WWII. He found tremendous racial predjudice and rose to prominence through his own. As an actor I thought he should have been given greater credit during the Academy awards not as an Asian, which is his ancestery but because he was capable of many different roles and excelled at all of them. Hollywood provided oppurtunities, but also created limits. I would have looked forward to him in a sequel in the future, but then life is about change isnt it..... Goodbye Tomodachi Domo Arigato Gozimus Sensei Se bishi...... __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Nov 26, 2005, 09:21 AM	#3
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	so sad. he seemed so humble in his life. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Nov 26, 2005, 04:23 PM	#6
GutterPunk I = Greatest Dood Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,949 Rep Power: 71	Thats sad... RiP __________________ Rock On \m/ Thank you Mousey for the Sig! --------------- Intel Core2Duo E6660 (3.4GHZ) ~ Tuniq Tower 120 ~ Enermax Galaxy 1000W ~ Corsair Dominator @ 1090MHZ 5-5-5-15 (OCZ XTC Modded Cooler)~ EVGA 8800GTX W/ HR-03 Plus 120MM ~ Asus DVD-RW LiteScribe ~ LG DVD-RW ~ Corsair Voyager 2GB ReadyBoost Drive ~ Vantec Nexus Fan Controller ~ ThermalTake Armor 25CM fan ~ Personal Finance Blog: Dent Your Debt

Nov 26, 2005, 05:14 PM	#7
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	for those who are going "who"? http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ch&sa=N&tab=wi you can find his likeness on google images.... Sad! …every time someone dies we are reminded of our own mortality __________________

Nov 26, 2005, 05:46 PM	#8
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,818 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Sad news tin a short time... first Goerge Best... (always seems to come in threes!) But can't help but think he were overshadowed by a kid (Ralph Macchio) who simply can not act! Goodbye to one of the better known Japanese actors... __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Nov 26, 2005, 11:24 AM	#4
tuco99 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Wax on, Wax off daniel son.

Nov 26, 2005, 04:16 PM	#5
Drakon DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Floatin'... Posts: 4,957 Rep Power: 0	He will be missed

Nov 26, 2005, 06:35 PM	#9
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,842 Rep Power: 72 System Specs	rip mr miyagi I loved the karate kid when I was young. __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.

Nov 26, 2005, 09:02 PM	#10
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Ironically, he was never type cast in any other role except as a Japanese person, although many Korean and Chinese actors are expected to play other asian roles, he typically avoided it, that was limiting for sure, but his humour was warming and came through. He has a Cheshire cat smile and a quick wit, that much I will miss. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."