Pat Morita: The Man Behind Mr. Miyagi Pat Morita, born Noriyuki Morita on June 28, 1932, in Isleton, California, was an iconic actor best known for his portrayal of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series. Despite facing numerous challenges early in life—including being diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis as a child and spending years in hospitals—Morita overcame adversity with humor and determination. During World War II, Morita and his family were among the thousands of Japanese Americans forc