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He began working as a stand-up comedian at small clubs in Sacramento as well as San Francisco, taking the stage name "Pat Morita," in part due to the presence of comedians including Pat Henry and Pat Cooper, in addition due to memories of the priest he had befriended as a boy. [11]
Jul 29, 2024 · After high school he began using the name Pat, a nickname given to him in the hospital by a Roman Catholic priest. Stand-up comedy and acting. In the 1960s Morita held various office jobs, working as a data entry clerk for the state of California and then as a supervisor at a rocket manufacturer.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- He Grew Up With Nothing. The son of Japanese immigrant fruit farmers, Morita grew up with very little. He, along with his family, travelled from farm to farm in California, picking up work wherever they could.
- He Almost Lost His Life. At two years old, a young Morita was playing with his favorite toy when he fell and bruised his lumbar. This wouldn’t be much of an issue today, but in the unsanitary conditions that Morita was living in, infection quickly set in—he contracted spinal tuberculosis, a dreaded disease.
- Doctors Terrified Him. Even though Morita was clearly very sick, he and his family refused to see a doctor. Suspicious and scared of doctors, they couldn’t afford to see one even if they wanted to go.
- He Would Never Walk Again. According to doctors at the Weimar Institute, Morita was not going to make it and even if he somehow did, he would never walk again.
Oct 21, 2023 · Q: How did Pat Morita get his start in acting? A: Pat Morita began his acting career in the late 1960s, appearing in small roles in various television shows and films. His breakthrough role came in 1976 when he portrayed Arnold , a wise-cracking restaurant owner, in the popular sitcom “Happy Days.
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).
- June 28, 1932
- November 24, 2005
Pat Morita was born as Noriyuki "Pat" Morita on June 28, 1932, in Isleton, California, USA, to Momoe and Tamaru. He had an older brother, named Hideo. Morita graduated from the Armijo High School.
6 days ago · How actor Pat Morita, best known as Mr. Miyagi, endured a difficult childhood to become a voice against racism. Pat Morita nearly missed the opportunity that defined his professional career. He ...
