Ralph Macchio Conservative (2024)

FAQs

What did Ralph Macchio say about Elisabeth Shue? ›

“As an older person, there was a recognition of missteps, of things I should have done differently.” He also said he regrets not calling Shue at the time, to see how she felt, or going to the producers to object to her removal.

After starring in three "Karate Kid" films in the '80s, Macchio "basically said 'No' for 30 years" to ideas for more. He didn't want to "taint the legacy with a short-sighted idea or cash grab."

Question: What was your relationship with Pat Morita like? Ralph Macchio: On screen, it was magic. I call it soulful magic. He and I were close, friendly.

"I remember seeing Billy at the memorial service in Vegas, and I instantly had this emotional feeling. It was a comfort seeing him there. And from that point on, our adult friendship started to happen, and it was quite meaningful."

Apart from four jiu-jitsu lessons when I was 10, I had no martial arts experience. Before filming, I was trained in Okinawan Gōjū-ryū karate by Pat E Johnson, who coordinated the fight scenes and played the head referee in the tournament at the end of the film.

He wed his childhood sweetheart Phyllis in 1987 (between Karate Kids II and III) and they are still together, even calling their son Daniel, although not entirely after the Karate Kid. He explains: "My wife's best friend growing up was called Daniel, so she always wanted to name a son Daniel.

Charlie Sheen as Daniel LaRusso

Sheen ultimately gave it a miss, allowing Macchio to step into the spotlight as the 'Karate Kid'. It's a curiosity to think about how Sheen's presence might have shifted the film's tone and style. Sheen turned down the role in order to star in Grizzly II: Revenge.

The yellow classic automobile that Daniel polishes in the famous "wax-on/wax-off" training scene, then later offered by Mr. Miyagi as Daniel's birthday gift, was actually given to Ralph Macchio by the producer, and he still owns it.

Sony owned the Karate Kid franchise when the first four movies were made, but Smith's production company Overbrook Entertainment acquired the rights to spearhead the 2010 Karate Kid.

Actor Ralph Macchio attends a memorial service for Pat Morita, his co-star in the movie "The Karate Kid", at the Palm Mortuary & Memorial Park...

Who is Ralph Macchio's best friend? ›

Ralph Macchio Best Friends with William Zabka 40 Years Later | 93.7 NOW | Elvis Duran.

Macchio was born in Huntington, New York. He is the son of Rosalie (née DeSantis) and Ralph George Macchio Sr., who owned a few laundromats and a wastewater disposal company. Macchio has a younger brother named Steven. His father is of half Italian and half Greek descent, and his mother is of Italian ancestry.

He was not at all experienced in martial arts prior to the filming of The Karate Kid (1984). He was actually an accomplished wrestler. However, in the years since, he has earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do.

Zabka was open to playing Johnny Lawrence again, yet they were not able to fit Johnny into the story. In addition to John Kreese and Terry Silver, Karate Kid 3 had a third villain, Mike Barnes, the one who actually got to fight Daniel LaRusso.

Zabka's father was already in the industry, working as an assistant director on "The Tonight Show"(NBC 1954- ) early in Johnny Carson's tenure on the series. When an 18-year-old Zabka scored his role in "The Karate Kid," he was not well versed in martial arts, but he continued his training even after the film wrapped.

Shue's Karate Kid exit had gone largely unexplained in the 30 years since she left the franchise, with the actor having previously expressed her frustrations from working on the original movie, which subsequently led to her disinterest in returning.

Elizabeth Shue, beloved star and teen heartthrob, stole millions of kids adoration as the love interest to Daniel in the Karate Kid. Elizabeth Shue was born on October 6, 1963 making her 20 years old at the time of filming!

April 5, 1987 (Phyllis Fierro)

Ralph Macchio / Wedding date