Born Noriyuki Morta on July 28, 1932, he was confined to a body cast because of spinal tuberculosis from the time he was 2 years old. Morita said the camps were 'America’s version of concentration camps'įrom the time he was a toddler, Morita faced some of life’s biggest challenges. Yet, with his passion and his gift of humor, he boldly ventured forth into that unpromising world.”īeyond Hollywood’s ethnic barriers, the friends were also bonded through a shared horrific childhood experience - one of the darkest chapters of American history - as both were forced to live at Japanese American internment camps in the United States during their early years.
“It was an insecure and inhospitable arena for Asian performers. “He was extraordinary in that Pat was of a generation of Asian Americans that rarely ventured into show business,” Takei wrote upon Morita’s death from kidney failure in 2005. Pioneering uncharted territory together, Takei had the utmost respect for Morita, who was five years his senior. Takei rose to recognition as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek series from 1966 to 1969 and through six of the franchise's films. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film franchise - and even starred in the first Asian American network TV sitcom, Mr. Morita portrayed Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on the sitcom Happy Days from 1975 to 1983 before his Academy Award-nominated role as Mr.
At a time when Asian Americans were hardly seen on screen, Pat Morita and George Takei broke new ground - seizing roles where they were able to play against stereotypes in the 1960s and '70s.
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