- Born
- Died
- Birth nameNoriyuki Morita
- Nicknames
- The Hip Nip
- Mr. Miyagi
- Nori
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- 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 comedy films as The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), alongside Don Knotts, and in Evil Roy Slade (1972) 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 Matsho "Arnold" Takahashi in 26 episodes of the hugely popular sitcom 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 police drama Ohara (1987), and guest-starred on other high-profile television series 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 at age 73 of natural causes at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 24, 2005.
- IMDb mini biography by: firehouse44@hotmail.com
- SpousesEvelyn Guerrero(March 26, 1994 - November 24, 2005) (his death)Yukiye Kitahara(December 28, 1970 - 1989) (divorced, 2 children)Kathleen Yamachi(June 13, 1953 - 1970) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenErin MoritaTia Morita
- ParentsDorothy Sueko SaikaTamaru MoritaMomoe Morita
- He was "Arnold" at Arnold's Drive-In Happy Days (1974) before the role was taken over by Al Molinaro, who was named Al.
- Graduated from Armijo High School.
- He is best known as Mr Miyagi in: The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989).
- He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Karate Kid (1984).
- He was also a stand up comedian, was known as the "hip nip".
- Thanks to the Japanese and Geronimo, John Wayne became a millionaire.
- I still have a young attitude.
- You may have heard that back in the States there are some people who are smoking grass. I don't know how you feel, but it's sure easier than cutting the stuff.
- I don't know of any other creature on earth other than man that will sit in a corner and cry because of some painful experience in the past.
- "Hip Nip," [a nickname given to him by a musician] just sounds groovy. A drummer laid it on me.
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