LOS ANGELES (AFP) - American-Japanese actor Pat Morita, who starred as the wise Mr Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" films, has died at the age of 73, his family told US media.
Morita died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada from natural causes, the reports said quoting his wife Evelyn.
His parents were Japanese immigrants who moved to California and became fruit pickers. The actor was born Noriuke Morita in 1932 and he was among thousands of Japanese-Americans sent to internment camps during World War II.
Morita later abandoned a career as an aircraft technician to become a comedian in cabarets and later television series.
He rose to fame in such series as "Happy Days" and "MASH".
But he became a star for his role as Ralph Macchio's mentor Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" films. He was nominated for the best supporting actor after the first in 1984.
Morita was only 1.60 metres (five feet two inches) tall and knew nothing about martial arts but handed out as a quiet caretaker who guided teenager Macchio to fight back against his bullies.
There were three sequels in 1986, 1989 and 1994 and he also appeared in series such as "Magnum" and "Baywatch".