| Pat Noriyuki Morita, the character actor who | | | | internment camp which detained thousands of |
| made famous the character of Mr. Miyagi in | | | | Japanese Americans during World War II as a |
| the "Karate Kid" movies, has died at his home | | | | "security measure". In the movie, it is |
| in Las Vegas at the age of 73.With over a | | | | revealed that Miyagi had received the news of |
| hundred film credits and over 60 TV credits | | | | their deaths while he was serving with |
| to his name, Morita appeared in episodes of | | | | distinction in the U.S. Army in Europe, |
| "M*A*S*H" and "Magnum PI" before capturing | | | | service for which he had received the Bronze |
| the popular imagination as Arnold on the | | | | Star. The scene touches indirectly on |
| long-running "Happy Days" series. Morita left | | | | Morita's own experiences; he was nine years |
| the show in 1976 to star in a short-lived | | | | old when World War II began, and he and his |
| series of his own, "Mr. T and Tina." He won | | | | parents spent much of the war in an |
| the breakout role of the humble, wise, and | | | | internment camp in Arizona.Morita co-wrote |
| kindhearted Miyagi opposite Ralph Macchio as | | | | and starred in the 1987 film "Captive |
| teenaged Daniel in the first "Karate Kid" | | | | Hearts," a little-known film about a Japanese |
| movie in 1984, and reprised the role in "The | | | | town which first captures and then protects |
| Karate Kid" Parts II and III, also starring | | | | two downed American airmen during the last |
| Macchio, in 1986 and 1989. In 1994 he | | | | days of World War II. The quiet film exhibits |
| recreated the Miyagi character for "The Next | | | | a gentleness which suggests that the equally |
| Karate Kid" opposite an up-and-coming young | | | | gentle nature of Miyagi was a reflection of |
| actress, Hilary Swank, as Julie. The 1984 | | | | Morita himself rather than a creative choice |
| movie earned him an Oscar nomination.The | | | | by the authors or directors of the "Karate |
| immensely popular "Karate Kid" movies in some | | | | Kid" series.Actors and other celebrities come |
| ways were overblown and simplistic; the | | | | and go in the attentions of the American |
| bullied victims, first Daniel and then Julie, | | | | public, and many have a flash of fame and |
| were viciously bullied and victimized; the | | | | then are forgotten. But others remain in our |
| villains were unremittingly evil and violent. | | | | hearts and minds, and come to be seen almost |
| But the Miyagi character was pure gold. At | | | | as kin. With the passing of Pat Morita, it |
| once a loving parent figure and strict | | | | seems as if we've lost a much beloved member |
| disciplinarian, he lived and taught a | | | | of our American family.Aldene Fredenburg is a |
| peaceful wisdom which helped both of his | | | | freelance writer living in southwestern New |
| young students to a deeper understanding of | | | | Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips |
| themselves and a kind of self-control more | | | | and Topics. She has published numerous |
| important than any physical self-defense | | | | articles in local and regional publications |
| lessons.Most of the humor in the films | | | | on a wide range of topics, including |
| surrounded the character of Miyagi, who also | | | | business, education, the arts, and local |
| exhibited the most complexity of any | | | | events. Her feature articles include an |
| character in the series. He was at once wise | | | | interview with independent documentary |
| and flawed; in one scene, he drank himself to | | | | filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on |
| sleep in an attempt to deal with the loss, | | | | prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison |
| years earlier, of his wife and newborn child. | | | | in Concord. |
| They had died in Manzanar, a California | | | | |