“I saw Billy from a different perspective”: It Took Pat Morita’s Death to Reunite Ralph Macchio and William Zabka That Led to Cobra Kai and the Rest is History
- Ralph Macchio and William Zabka's bond began at Pat Morita's funeral.
- Macchio and Zabka's friendship grew after years of not speaking.
- Their bond shines in 'Cobra Kai,' honoring Miyagi's legacy in its finale.
Many fans might not know that the stars of the iconic 1984 movie The Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso) and William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), weren’t exactly friends in real life either.
According to The Guardian, an accident occurred during the filming of the Halloween fight where Macchio was actually knocked out. This real-life mishap added to the intensity of their on-screen feud. In fact, they lost touch for nearly two decades! But life, as it often does, had a surprising way of bringing them back together.
Pat Morita’s Death Brought Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Closer
The turning point in their relationship came in 2005, at the funeral of their beloved co-star, Pat Morita, who played the wise and inspirational Mr. Miyagi. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka both looked up to him, who was like a mentor and friend to them. When the two saw each other at his memorial, after not speaking for many years, they felt a deep sadness and started to see each other in a new light. As Macchio told People:
We hadn’t spoken in probably 15, 20 years at the point that Pat passed away. 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.
In his memoir, Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, Macchio talked about that moment, writing:
For the first time, after so many years of absence, I saw Billy from another perspective.
The mutual feeling led to a strong bond between the two stars. This surprise reunion became the starting point for something much greater — Cobra Kai!
Miyagi’s Legacy Lives On in Cobra Kai
Jump ahead to 2018, and Cobra Kai was born, bringing back the Karate Kid rivalry between adult Daniel and Johnny. The show’s success came from the real connection between Macchio and Zabka, a bond that started in that Las Vegas funeral hall.
The connection between the characters was amazing on screen, making the show feel real and relatable for the audience. The sixth and final season of Cobra Kai explored more of Mr. Miyagi’s past.
“We’ve always wanted to weave Miyagi into the show,” said Macchio. This journey into Miyagi’s history added an excitement to the story and served as a final tribute to the character who united the actors and the show.
Watch Cobra Kai on Netflix.
