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We pay tribute to Pat Morita, who recently passed away of natural causes at the age of 73. Pat is survived by his wife, Evelyn, and three daughters from a previous marriage. "Down and Derby" was Pat's last family film made and we all consider it a privilege to have worked with him and been touched by his life.
In Down and Derby, Pat has amazing presence both on and off camera. He is convincing as the Japanese business tycoon, Ono Yakimoto, and effectively carries a serious disposition amidst ridiculous situations, which increases the comedy of his scenes. Not to be outdone, he offers surprising moments of his own and is an audience favorite among early previews.
Pat found initial success in his recurring roles in the popular series “M*A*S*H” and “Happy Days.” A highlight of Pat’s career was an Oscar nomination for his performance as Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid”. He also starred in the film’s sequels and remained very active with supporting roles in dozens of films, including the Disney animated smash “Mulan.”
After spending many years in California, Pat resided in Las Vegas until he passed away on November 25, 2005.
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