R.I.P. Pat Morita

[Kilinahe]

Pat Morita has died (http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1345535).

[mel]

Yep, was surprised to hear about this on the radio this morning. He will always be remembered for playing Mr. Miyagi on the "Karate Kid" movies.

[pzarquon]

What an incredible life. He'll most definitely be missed.

Here's his IMDB profile (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001552/) (he still has appearances coming up - though Only the Brave (http://starbulletin.com/2005/11/11/features/story05.html) isn't mentioned) and a Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Morita). Here's a nice writeup (http://seinenkai.com/art-morita.html) by a local writer. Remember his "Hi-Y" ad for First Hawaiian Bank? He had strong ties to the islands.

[mel]

Pat Morita also did a series of local commercials for Rainbow Chevrolet in the 1980s.

[LikaNui]

And he lived on the north shore for quite a long time.
R.I.P., Pat.
:(

[tutusue]

[...]Remember his "Hi-Y" ad for First Hawaiian Bank? He had strong ties to the islands.
Pat was the celebrity 'spokesman' (for lack of a better word) for FHB during the early to mid 1990s. One of my favorite spots, which preceded the Hi Y ads (iirc), is a husband and wife at the bathroom sink getting ready for work. The camera is from the mirror's point of view. The wife is putting on lipstick when, in the background, we see Pat pull back the shower curtain! The wife's reaction to seeing Pat in the shower was priceless!

Yes, indeed, he'll be missed.

[1stwahine]

R.I.P. Mr. Pat Morita

1stwahine

[Kalihiboy]

I met him a few years ago at a Perry & Price show when he was taping Baywatch Hawaii here in town.

I got to take a photo with him and get his autograph. He will be missed.

KalihiBoy

[Miulang]

though Only the Brave (http://starbulletin.com/2005/11/11/features/story05.html) isn't mentioned) and a Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Morita).

The reason it's not mentioned in his official credits is probably because the producers are still in the process of raising money to do final edits and find a distributor for the movie. Theoretically, it's still a movie-in-progress until a distributor can be found. It's only been screened at special "preview" fundraisers.

A related note: Did you know that Mark Dascascos (one of the main characters in "Only the Brave") is now the guy who plays Kaga's nephew on "Iron Chef America"? And Yuji Okumoto (another main character in "Only the Brave"), who also had roles with Pat Morita in the Karate Kid movies, also auditioned for the part of Kaga's nephew for "Iron Chef America"?

Miulang

[oggboy]

Never No That Muilang!!!! Thanks For You Info.............
Oggboy

[alohabear]

He will always be "Arnold" to me . That "bahaa haa " laugh was a classic. :D

[Leo Lakio]

And Yuji Okumoto (another main character in "Only the Brave"), who also had roles with Pat Morita in the Karate Kid movies, also auditioned for the part of Kaga's nephew for "Iron Chef America"?
...and is the owner of Kona Kitchen restaurant here in Seattle, where, one weekend morning each month, you just might bump into the staff of the "Northwest Hawai`i Times" newspaper, plotting our next couple months' issues...

[lurkah]

...and is the owner of Kona Kitchen restaurant here in Seattle, where, one weekend morning each month, you just might bump into the staff of the "Northwest Hawai`i Times" newspaper, plotting our next couple months' issues...
Are you referring to issues for the online edition?? Pat Morita would've said, "bahaa haa!" And you can tell Rochelle I said that, too. :D

"Pat's relationship with Hawaii (http://starbulletin.com/2005/11/26/news/story03.html) was very unique," said singer Jimmy Borges, who met Morita in San Francisco more than four decades ago. "Everybody here thought he was from Hawaii because he had that feeling of being a local. He used to laugh at that. And he felt he was home here."

[Leo Lakio]

Are you referring to issues for the online edition??
Soon, braddah, soon ... or so I'm led to believe ... :p

[akashastrega]

I was saddened to hear of his passing...while no Brad Pitt in the movie realm, he will certainly be missed and thought of as a big-time actor in my eyes.

[Miulang]

Not to sully Pat's wonderful contributions to the world of entertainment, but a People Magazine story about his life this week indicated that he died from acute alcoholism. Sad, sad, sad. :(

Miulang

[alohabear]

You all should read this Christmas story (http://starbulletin.com/2005/12/09/editorial/special.html) about a man who visted sick kids in the hospital.