Pat Morita

Birth Name: Noriyuki Morita

Date of Birth: June 28, 1932

Place of Birth: Alameda, California, United States

Date of Death: November 24, 2005

Place of Death: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

Ethnicity: Japanese

Pat Morita was an American actor and comedian. He is known in particular for playing Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and its sequels. He was also credited as Noriyuki “Pat” Morita.

Pat was the son of Momoe (Fukushima) and Tamaru Morita. His father was from the Kumamoto Prefecture on the Japanese island of Kyushu, and moved to the U.S. in 1915. His mother immigrated in 1913. During World War II, he was interned at Gila River camp in Arizona, and the Tule Lake War Relocation Center.

He was married to actress Evelyn Guerrero, until his death. He had one child with his former wife Kathleen Yamachi, and two children with his former wife Yukiye Kitahara.

Pat’s paternal grandfather was named Sanjiro Morita.

Pat’s paternal grandmother was named Kizu Matusaka.

Pat’s maternal grandfather was named Heijiro Fukushima.

Pat’s maternal grandmother was named Kimi Sakai.