Farewell Pat Morita
(1932 - 2005)
The Hip Nip. That's what they would call him. How hip he really was is hard to gauge, I didn't know him after all, but for some reason beyond my grasp of understanding, I trust the nickname born of a racial slur holds much truth about the man the film industry most recently lost.
On the 24th of November, 2005, Pat Morita (born Noriyuki Morita) died of natural causes at the age of 73. He is survived by a wife and three children.
The role of an Asian-American in cinema has always been one of narrow purpose. According to the universe in which American movies take place, an Asian must always be knowledgeable in alternative medicines, or have trouble with English, or be a gang lord, or just be on screen for mere comedic ambitions. The American film industry truly does degrade our Mongoloid cousins in a terribly uncinematic way. But, to be fair, this role is very much mutual in the Asian film industry.
However, this never did stop The Hip Nip, Mr Pat Morita, from defying all odds and soaring to the pinnacle of American film. Diagnosed at the age of seven with spinal tuburculosis, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was told he would never walk again. Ironically, his first bout of show business was that of a 'stand-up' comedian. It was here he was discovered, and made the leap from comedy clubs to sitcoms, landing roles on such huge television programs at the time as "Green Acres", "The Odd Couple", "M*A*S*H*", "Kung Fu" and "Starsky and Hutch". And remember Arnold from "Happy Days"? Then you remember Pat Morita! From this he formed a dwindling film career, in very minor roles showcasing his talent for presentation of an offball character.
Perhaps it was his success at playfulness on screen that led to the role of his lifetime in 1984, where he got to multiply his average screen time in a movie by about ten times. The movie was The Karate Kid. And he... was Mr Miyagi.
Oh, what fun it would have been for him to become this delightfully eccentric genius, catching flies with nothing but pure martial instinct and chopsticks. To don one of those now famous (and actually pretty useless) headbands with something very oriental embroided on them. He not only taught that pesky 'karate kid', he taught us, the audience, what it was to open our minds.
And open minds he did. For his performance in The Karate Kid, Pat earned himself an Oscar nomination (the very first Asian-American actor to do so) for Best Supporting Actor. He didn't win, sadly, but as all the losers say on the night, "It's an honour just to be nominated."
From here, Morita's story loses much momentum, and descends into very tragic territory. While doing some rather crafty small roles in films like Spy Hard (as a gay waiter) and providing a voice for Disney's Mulan, he clutched to the success he garnered from The Karate Kid, and signed on to do three sequels.... as well as a film entitled... (sigh) The Karate Dog.
It should also be noted that Pat was nominated for a Worst Supporting Actor award at 1989's Razzie Awards for once again portraying Mr Miyagi in The Karate Kid, Part III. Tsk tsk.
But, it is not in the sturdyness (or lack thereof) of his career that we remember him. We must remember him for the high points of his life, the characters he has created for us to become synonymous with and the cultural barriers that he removed for the Western world. We must know him for his triumphs, his dedication and his sense of humour towards himself. And there is no better method of immortalising these qualities than on film, a gift he has given to us, and a legacy he has created for himself.
Rest In Peace.
On the 24th of November, 2005, Pat Morita (born Noriyuki Morita) died of natural causes at the age of 73. He is survived by a wife and three children.
The role of an Asian-American in cinema has always been one of narrow purpose. According to the universe in which American movies take place, an Asian must always be knowledgeable in alternative medicines, or have trouble with English, or be a gang lord, or just be on screen for mere comedic ambitions. The American film industry truly does degrade our Mongoloid cousins in a terribly uncinematic way. But, to be fair, this role is very much mutual in the Asian film industry.
However, this never did stop The Hip Nip, Mr Pat Morita, from defying all odds and soaring to the pinnacle of American film. Diagnosed at the age of seven with spinal tuburculosis, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was told he would never walk again. Ironically, his first bout of show business was that of a 'stand-up' comedian. It was here he was discovered, and made the leap from comedy clubs to sitcoms, landing roles on such huge television programs at the time as "Green Acres", "The Odd Couple", "M*A*S*H*", "Kung Fu" and "Starsky and Hutch". And remember Arnold from "Happy Days"? Then you remember Pat Morita! From this he formed a dwindling film career, in very minor roles showcasing his talent for presentation of an offball character.
Perhaps it was his success at playfulness on screen that led to the role of his lifetime in 1984, where he got to multiply his average screen time in a movie by about ten times. The movie was The Karate Kid. And he... was Mr Miyagi.
Oh, what fun it would have been for him to become this delightfully eccentric genius, catching flies with nothing but pure martial instinct and chopsticks. To don one of those now famous (and actually pretty useless) headbands with something very oriental embroided on them. He not only taught that pesky 'karate kid', he taught us, the audience, what it was to open our minds.
And open minds he did. For his performance in The Karate Kid, Pat earned himself an Oscar nomination (the very first Asian-American actor to do so) for Best Supporting Actor. He didn't win, sadly, but as all the losers say on the night, "It's an honour just to be nominated."
From here, Morita's story loses much momentum, and descends into very tragic territory. While doing some rather crafty small roles in films like Spy Hard (as a gay waiter) and providing a voice for Disney's Mulan, he clutched to the success he garnered from The Karate Kid, and signed on to do three sequels.... as well as a film entitled... (sigh) The Karate Dog.
It should also be noted that Pat was nominated for a Worst Supporting Actor award at 1989's Razzie Awards for once again portraying Mr Miyagi in The Karate Kid, Part III. Tsk tsk.
But, it is not in the sturdyness (or lack thereof) of his career that we remember him. We must remember him for the high points of his life, the characters he has created for us to become synonymous with and the cultural barriers that he removed for the Western world. We must know him for his triumphs, his dedication and his sense of humour towards himself. And there is no better method of immortalising these qualities than on film, a gift he has given to us, and a legacy he has created for himself.
Rest In Peace.
posted by Ryan at 2:31 pm
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