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NORIYUKI (PAT) MORITA

JUNE 28, 1932 - NOVEMBER 24, 2005


REST IN PEACE PAT

Beloved actor Noriyuki (Pat) Morita has died at 73 of natural causes. He led a very interesting and at times hardscrabble life, filled with a great deal of suffering and misery, until at age 30 he began to attain success with comedy and acting.

Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with "spinal tuberculosis". He later recovered only to be sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.

"One day I was an invalid," he recalled in a 1989 AP interview. "The next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp by an F.B.I. agent wearing a piece."

His bio is well worth reading and you will find yourself crying for his suffering, cheering his successes.He was especially well known as "Mr. Miyagi" in "The Karate Kid" movies and of course as "Arnold" in "Happy Days".

He was one of my favorite actors and I will miss him a great deal as will many.It really saddened me to note that he died on Thanksgiving...My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Rest In Peace Pat....You will be remembered fondly and greatly missed.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Morita

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001552/bio

http://www.tv.com/pat-morita/person/8782/summary.html

http://www.shrinershq.org/patients/nickpat8-97.html

http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/f ... p_id=50707
[img]https://richardpryor.com/forums/images/ ... uki_Morita pat.jpg[/img]

koda,

I've always admired him because of his background, strength and positive and strong reserve. he was not someone you deal with negatively, but everything about him made you respect him. small in stature, but as tall as they come, yanno.

but I know he's in a good place and I know he can hear all of the kind words and thoughts for him.

tamra,
I'm sitting here right now shedding a tear for this guy! Aw, man, some people just have this infectious spirit and goodwill about them and he was one of them. You just felt good when you saw him. I was a big fan of "The Karate Kid" movies and "Happy Days" and y'all don't even remember when he used to play Choo on "Sanford & Son". He used to always perplex me as a child because he was Asian and spoke such fluent English and that was the first time I ever saw that. He was truly an original and an inspiration. I'll truly miss this cat.

R.I.P. Mr. Miyagi