Morita Family History & Genealogy

Pat Morita Born Noriyuki Morita June 28, 1932 Isleton, California, U.S. Died November 24, 2005 (aged 73) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Occupation Actor, voice actor, comedian, martial artist Years active 1959–2005 Spouse(s) Kathleen Yamachi (m. 1953; div. 1967) Yukiye Kitahara (m. 1970; div. 1989) Evelyn Guerrero (m. 1994) Children 3 Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (June 28, 1932 – November 24, 2005) was an American actor, voice actor, comedian, and martial artist. He was known for his roles as Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days (1975–1983), Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series, Mike Woo in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and The Emperor of China in Mulan and Mulan II. Morita was nominated for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid. Morita also portrayed Ah Chew in Sanford and Son (1974–1976). Morita was the series lead actor in the television program Mr. T and Tina (1976) and in Ohara (1987–1988), a police-themed drama. The two shows made history for being among the few TV shows with an Asian American series lead. Early life Morita was born in Isleton, California in 1932. Morita's father Tamaru, born in 1897, had immigrated to California from Kumamoto Prefecture on the Japanese island of Kyushu in 1915. Tamaru's wife Momoe, born in 1903, had emigrated to California in 1913. Noriyuki, as Pat was named, had a brother named Hideo (Harry) who was twelve years older. Morita developed spinal tuberculosis (Pott disease) at the age of two and spent the bulk of the next nine years in the Weimar Institute in Weimar, California, and later at the Shriners Hospital in San Francisco. For long periods he was wrapped in a full-body cast and was told that he would never walk. During his time at a sanatorium near Sacramento, Morita befriended a visiting priest who would often joke that, if Morita ever converted to Catholicism, the priest would rename him to "Patrick Aloysius Ignatius Xavier Noriyuki Morita". Released from the hospital at age 11 after undergoing extensive spinal surgery and learning how to walk, Morita was transported from the hospital directly to the Gila River camp in Arizona to join his interned family. After about a year and a half, he was transferred to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center. For a time after the war, the family operated Ariake Chop Suey, a restaurant in Sacramento, California. Morita would entertain customers with jokes and serve as master of ceremonies for group dinners. Morita began working as a stand-up comic after graduating from Armijo High School in Fairfield, California. He took the stage name "Pat Morita", in part due to the presence of comedians including Pat Henry and Pat Cooper, and in part due to memories of the priest he had befriended as a boy. Morita struggled for many years in comedy. Sally Marr, Lenny Bruce's mother, acted as his agent and manager in his early days. Morita sometimes worked as the opening act for singers Vic Damone and Connie Stevens and for his mentor, the comedian Redd Foxx. Foxx later gave him a role on his sitcom Sanford and Son in the early 1970s. Early work

Yumi (Morita) Razler was born on June 13, 1967 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Yumi (Morita) Razler.

Yoshito Morita of Honokaa, Hawaii County, HI was born on October 4, 1914, and died at age 73 years old on July 6, 1988.

Yuzuru Morita of Aiea, Honolulu County, HI was born on May 8, 1917, and died at age 88 years old on March 2, 2006. Yuzuru Morita was buried at National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific Section CT9-G Row 500 Site 579 2177 Puowaina Drive, in Honolulu.

Jimmy H Morita of Hawaii United States was born on February 16, 1921, and died at age 71 years old on August 28, 1992. Jimmy Morita was buried at National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific Section CT2-F Row 400 Site 403 2177 Puowaina Drive, in Honolulu.

Makoto Morita of Hanamaulu, Kauai County, HI was born on June 8, 1925, and died at age 79 years old on October 31, 2004.

Mamoru Morita of Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI was born on July 2, 1920, and died at age 81 years old on February 16, 2002. Mamoru Morita was buried at National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific Section V Site 1069-B 2177 Puowaina Drive, in Honolulu.

Shinichi Morita of Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI was born on February 22, 1917, and died at age 77 years old on November 22, 1994. Shinichi Morita was buried at National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific Section W Site 814-A 2177 Puowaina Drive, in Honolulu.

Yonetoshi Morita of Hilo, Hawaii County, HI was born on April 28, 1918, and died at age 84 years old on May 18, 2002.

Hiroshi Morita of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA was born on February 12, 1917, and died at age 87 years old on November 11, 2004.

Fred Morita of Ault, Weld County, Colorado was born on September 14, 1922, and died at age 60 years old in August 1983.

George K Morita of Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii was born on August 22, 1922, and died at age 60 years old in January 1983.

George K Morita of Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI was born on April 27, 1928, and died at age 73 years old on May 27, 2001.

George Liwai Morita of Kapaa, Kauai County, Hawaii was born on July 5, 1921, and died at age 88 years old on July 19, 2009.

Masuo Morita of Pacoima, Los Angeles County, CA was born on October 5, 1917, and died at age 81 years old on December 14, 1998.

Danette Kauilani (Nuesca) Morita was born in Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii United States, and has a brother Louis Peter Nuesca Jr. Danette Morita died in Lihue, Kauai County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Danette Kauilani (Nuesca) Morita.

Maurice Kalani Morita of Kaaawa, Honolulu County, Hawaii was born on November 30, 1944, and died at age 66 years old on March 11, 2011. Maurice Morita was buried at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery Section 1F Site 224 Kamehameha Highway, in Kaneohe.

Marian Y Morita was born at Hilo. Marian Morita was in a relationship with Maurice H Takeshima, and has children Kyle K K Takeshima and Greg Y K Takeshima. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Marian Y Morita .

Paul H Morita of Sun City West, Maricopa County, AZ was born on February 13, 1924, and died at age 77 years old on February 4, 2002. Paul Morita was buried at National Memorial Cemetery Of Arizona Section 60 Site 59 23029 North Cave Creek Road, in Phoenix.

Teruko Morita of Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI was born on January 5, 1929, and died at age 54 years old on April 25, 1983. Teruko Morita was buried at National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific Section V Site 1069-B 2177 Puowaina Drive, in Honolulu.