About
| Birth Name: | Noriyuki Morita |
| Birth Notes: | 28 June 1932, Isleton, California, USA |
| Height: | 5' 3" |
| Nicknames: | The Hip Nip, Mr. Miyagi, Nori |
| Family: | * Evelyn Guerrero (26 March 1994 - 24 November 2005) (his death) * 'Yukiye Kitahara' (28 December 1970 - 1989) (divorced); 2 children * 'Kathleen Yamachi' (13 June 1953 - 1967) (divorced); 1 child |
| Biography: | Abundantly busy and much loved Asian-American actor who became an on-screen hero to millions of adults and kids alike as the wise and wonderful Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984), the sparkling Noriyuki Morita was back again dishing out Eastern philosophy and martial arts lessons for The Karate Kid, Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid, Part III (1989), and even for The Next Karate Kid (1994). However, putting all that karate aside, the diminutive Morita actually first started out as a stand-up comedian known as "The Hip Nip" in nightclubs and bars, and made his first on-screen appearance in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). He quickly adapted to the screen and showed up in small parts in such comedies as The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), alongside Don Knotts, and in Evil Roy Slade (1972) (TV) supporting John Astin. He also appeared in such popular series as "Sanford and Son" (1972) and "M*A*S*H" (1972). Morita got his next break playing the often-perplexed restaurant owner Arnold in two episodes of the hugely popular "Happy Days" (1974) between 1975 and 1976 and again between 1982 and 1983. Morita was quite in demand on the small screen and also scored the lead in his own cop show, "Ohara" (1987), and guest-starred on other high-profile TV shows including "Magnum, P.I." (1980), "Murder, She Wrote" (1984), "Baywatch" (1989) and "The Hughleys" (1998). Although most often used as a minor character actor, he remained consistently busy and occasionally lent his vocal talents to animated features such as Mulan (1998). However, his real strengths lay in portraying slightly oddball or unusual characters in offbeat films. He died of natural causes at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, NV, in November 2005, at the age of 73. |
Filmography
| American Fusion (2005) as Lao Dong |
| Auntie Lee's Meat Pies (1992) as Chief Koal |
| Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) as The Chink |
| Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) as Mahi Mahi |
| Only the Brave (2006) as Seigo Takata |
| Royal Kill (2009) as Exhibition Manager |
| Spy Hard (1996) as Brian, Waiter in Restaurant |
| Spymate (2006) as Kiro |
| The Center of the World (2001) as Taxi Driver |
| The Karate Kid (1984) as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi |
| The Karate Kid, Part II (1986) as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi |
| The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi |
| The Last Shot (2004) as Himself |
| The Next Karate Kid (1994) as Sgt. Kesuke Miyagi |
| Act Your Age (2008) as Tom |
| American Ninja V (1993) as Master Tetsu |
| Ancestors in the Americas, Part II (1998) as Himself - Narrator |
| Beyond Barbed Wire (1997) as Narrator |
| Bloodsport 2 (1996) as David Leung |
| Bloodsport III (1996) as David Leung |
| Brother (2000) as Guy at the poker table |
| Cancel My Reservation (1972) as Yamamoto |
| Captive Hearts (1987) as Fukushima |
| Captured Alive (1995) as Sam Kashawahara |
| Cats and Mice (2003) as Unagi |
| Collision Course (1989) as Investigator Fujitsuka Natsuo |
| Coming Attractions (2006) as Mr. Miyami |
| Do or Die (1991) as Masakana 'Kane' Kaneshiro |
| Down and Derby (2005) as Ono Yakimoto |
| Earth Minus Zero (1996) as Dr. Mobius Jefferson |
| Elvis Has Left the Building (2004) as Man in Turban |
| Every Little Crook and Nanny (1972) as Nonaka |
| Full Moon High (1981) as The Silversmith |
| Genghis Khan (2006) as Emperor Wei Wong |
| Genghis Khan: The Story of a Lifetime (2010) as Emperor |
| Gengis Khan (1992) as Emperor Wang |
| Goodbye Paradise (1991) as Ben |
| Hammerlock (2000) as Un Huong Lo |
| Hito Hata: Raise the Banner (1980) |
| House of Luk (2001) as Kwang Luk |
| I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? (1975) as Heshy Yamamoto |
| I'll Remember April (1999) as Abe Tanaka |
| Inferno (1999) as Jubal Early |
| Jimmy the Kid (1982) as Maurice |
| Lena's Holiday (1991) as Fred |
| Los gringos (1999) as The Samurai |
| Midway (1976) as Rear Admiral Ryunosuke Kusaka |
| Miracle Beach (1992) as Gus |
| Miss Cast Away (2004) as Mr. Yogi |
| Mulan (1998) as The Emperor |
| Night Patrol (1984) as Rape Victim |
| Reggie's Prayer (1996) as Principal |
| Rice Girl (2003) as Peter Ong |
| Sangokushi (1992) as Narrator (English Version) |
| Savannah Smiles (1982) as Father Ohara |
| Shadow Fury (2001) as Dr. Oh |
| Slapstick (Of Another Kind) (1982) as Ah Fong, the Chinese Ambassador |
| Stuey (2003) as Mr. Leo |
| Sutoroberi rodo (1991) as Old Man's brother |
| Talk to Taka (2000) as Taka |
| The Biggest Fan (2002) as Richard Limp |
| The Boys of Sunset Ridge (2001) as Charlie Watanabe |
| The Misery Brothers (1995) as Judge |
| The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) as Wong |
| The Stoneman (2002) as Prof. Stevens |
| Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) as Asian #2 |
| Timemaster (1995) as Isaiah |
| WaSanGo (2001) as (MTV English Dub) |
| When Time Ran Out... (1980) as Sam |
| Where Does It Hurt? (1972) as Nishimoto |
Trivia
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* Graduated from Armijo High School in Fairfield, California. * While performing as a stand-up comic, he was discovered by Redd Foxx . This led to several appearances as Ah Chew on "Sanford and Son" (1972). * Was often billed as the Hip Nip for his stand-up performances. * Was a fan of the Green Bay Packers football team. * Diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis as a child and was told that he would never walk. Spent nine years in hospitals. * Was the first American-born Asian nominated for an acting Oscar. It was for his role of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984). * Had three daughters with Yuki * Was the subject of a popular Internet myth, that he owned a Japanese-style restaurant called Miyagi's on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. However, according to Morita himself in an about.com interview, this was just a myth and he had nothing to do with the restaurant. * Buried at Palm Green Valley Memorial Park in Clark County, 6701 North Jones, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. * Last movie ever filmed is Royal Kill (2009) (working title: Princess) also starring Eric Roberts and Lalaine. * During his funeral procession, his former co-star Ralph Macchio of The Karate Kid (1984) quoted, "Forever, my Sensei" towards the mourners. * One of eight actors of Asian descent nominated for an Academy Award in an acting category. The others are Miyoshi Umeki who won Best Supporting Actress nominated for Sayonara (1957), Sessue Hayakawa nominated for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Mako nominated for The Sand Pebbles (1966), Ben Kingsley who won Best Actor for Gandhi (1982), Haing S. Ngor who won Best Supporting Actor for The Killing Fields (1984), Ken Watanabe nominated for The Last Samurai (2003) and Rinko Kikuchi nominated for Babel (2006). * His real accent is American, when playing "Mr. Miyagi" in the Karate Kid movies, he used a faux Japanese accent. * The scene that sealed his nomination for best supporting actor in The Karate Kid (1984), in which Miyagi gets drunk and weeps over the death of his wife and child in the Manzanar Internment Camp was nearly cut out of the film. The studio thought the scene was unnecessary and wanted it cut. But director John G. Avildsen argued that the scene was important to Miyagi's character and finally the studio relented and allowed the scene to be kept in. Also, during the casting of the film, the studio wanted legendary Japanese actor Toshirô Mifune to play Miyagi but Avildsen and producer Jerry Weintraub thought Mifune's interpretation of the character was far too serious for what the film needed. * Was a closet alcoholic. Heavy drinking, which his doctors urged him against, was the primary cause of Morita's death. * He and his family were placed in an internment camp during World War II. * Was given the name "Pat" by his priest. |
Photos
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