Pat Morita

Actor
Bob Hope Comedy Collection
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his nearly three-and-a-half-hour interview, Pat Morita (1932-2005) talks about his early years, including his childhood internment in a camp in California for Japanese Americans during World War II. Morita discusses how he turned to comedy performance at the age of 30, and quickly rose to his television debut on Hollywood Palace. He recounts how, after performing on stage and television, he landed a regular role as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days. He talks about appearing on Sanford and Son and speaks fondly of his mentor, the late Redd Foxx. He also recalls his work in the Karate Kid feature films and his then-current life and career. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 13, 2000 in Las Vegas, NV.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"But quote unquote 'Japs ain't funny.' So how am I going to get work as a comedian if 'Japs ain't funny'? I gotta be funny first, but might happen to look like a Japanese guy....I think the best things in life begin from sometimes the worst things in life -- but not without effort, not without hopes and dreams."

People Talking About ...
Pat Morita
Highlights
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
09:00
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
03:31
Pat Morita on working with Ron Howard as "Ritchie Cunningham" on Happy Days
02:29
Pat Morita on how playing "Miyagi" in the "Karate Kid" series of feature films impacted his career
03:07
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
01:46
Pat Morita on appearing on M*A*S*H
02:00
Pat Morita on how he'd like to be remembered
01:12
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences
On having tuberculosis as a child, requiring long-term hospitalization: on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II; on his early interest in entertainment, and on radio shows he listened to as a child

Chapter 2
On his high school education and working in his family's restaurant; on working at Aerojet-General Corporation, and starting a family
On making the decision to become a comedian; on getting his foot in the door as a comedian, and on knowing Flip Wilson in the early years; on his early stand up act, and his five-year plan

Chapter 3
On how he came to appear on The Hollywood Palace thanks to his manager Sally Marr who was Lenny Bruce's mother; on tailoring his stand up act for television, and on using his Japanese heritage in his act
On starting to make the transition from comedian to actor; Morita on being typecast in his career, and on appearing in the feature "Throughly Modern Millie"; on he and his representatives realizing he wanted to be an actor, and on what it takes to make it as an actor
On appearing on M*A*S*H; on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris

Chapter 4
On being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson; on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days;
On his favorite "Arnold" moments on Happy Days; on people accepting his "Arnold Takahashi" character on Happy Days, and on why ABC wanted the audience to see him
On working with Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as "Howard Cunningham" and "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days; on working with Ron Howard as "Ritchie Cunningham" on Happy Days; on working with Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days

Chapter 5
On Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days; on Anson Williams as "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days; on Donny Most as "Ralph Malph" on Happy Days
On leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack; on the premise of Mr. T. & Tina; on appearing on Welcome Back, Kotter
On appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son and on his friendship with Redd Foxx; on the name of his Sanford and Son character "Ah Chew"; on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son

Chapter 6
On his friendship with Redd Foxx; on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker; on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
On playing "Miyagi" in the "Karate Kid" series of feature films; on how playing "Miyagi" in the "Karate Kid" series of feature films impacted his career
On starring in Ohara; on appearing in Hiroshima; on appearing in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo

Chapter 7
On appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award; on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore; on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate
On appearing in Greyhounds; on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc; on then-current projects
On advice to aspiring actors; on racism in the television industry; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Amos

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Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award
01:42

Babes in Toyland

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Pat Morita on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore
02:46

Blansky's Beauties

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Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
02:51

Farewell to Manzanar

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Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
07:19

Greyhounds

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Pat Morita on appearing in Greyhounds
02:10

Happy Days

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Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
09:00
Pat Morita on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
03:56
Pat Morita on his favorite "Arnold" moments on Happy Days
04:07
Pat Morita on people accepting his "Arnold Takahashi" character on Happy Days, and on why ABC wanted the audience to see him
03:26
Pat Morita on working with Tom Bosley as "Howard Cunningham" on Happy Days
01:47
Pat Morita on working with Marion Ross and "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days
01:51
Pat Morita on working with Ron Howard as "Ritchie Cunningham" on Happy Days
02:29
Pat Morita on working with Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days
02:55
Pat Morita on Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days
01:46
Pat Morita on Anson Williams as "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
02:04
Pat Morita on Donny Most as "Ralph Malph" on Happy Days
02:10
Pat Morita on leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack
03:00

Hiroshima

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Pat Morita on appearing in Hiroshima
02:09

Hollywood Palace, The

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Pat Morita on how he came to appear on The Hollywood Palace thanks to his manager Sally Marr who was Lenny Bruce's mother
07:59

Love, American Style

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Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
04:57

M*A*S*H

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Pat Morita on appearing on M*A*S*H
02:00

Mastergate

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Pat Morita on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate
05:17

Mr. T. & Tina

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Pat Morita on leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack
03:00
Pat Morita on the premise of Mr. T. & Tina
02:49

Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, The

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Pat Morita on appearing in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo
02:28

Ohara

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Pat Morita on starring in Ohara
03:11

Sanford and Son

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Pat Morita on appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
05:47
Pat Morita on the name of his Sanford and Son character "Ah Chew"
03:34
Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son
05:43

Welcome Back, Kotter

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Pat Morita on appearing on Welcome Back, Kotter
01:44
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
01:46

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
Pat Morita on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
03:56

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son
05:43
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
03:31

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
01:42

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
04:46
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
07:19
Pat Morita on racism in the television industry
04:48

Overcoming Adversity

View Topic
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
04:46

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
04:46
Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son
05:43
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
03:31

Pop Culture

View Topic
Pat Morita on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
03:56

Representation on Television

View Topic
Pat Morita on racism in the television industry
04:48

Television Industry

View Topic
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
01:46

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
Pat Morita on racism in the television industry
04:48

War

View Topic
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
04:46
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
07:19

World War II

View Topic
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
04:46
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
07:19
Professions

Actor

View Profession
Pat Morita on starting to make the transition from comedian to actor
03:23
Pat Morita on he and his representatives realizing he wanted to be an actor, and on what it takes to make it as an actor
02:50
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
01:46

Comedian

View Profession
Pat Morita on getting his foot in the door as a comedian, and on knowing Flip Wilson in the early years
02:59
Pat Morita on tailoring his stand up act for television, and on using his Japanese heritage in his act
07:13
Pat Morita on starting to make the transition from comedian to actor
03:23

Performers

View Profession
Pat Morita on getting his foot in the door as a comedian, and on knowing Flip Wilson in the early years
02:59
Pat Morita on tailoring his stand up act for television, and on using his Japanese heritage in his act
07:13
Pat Morita on starting to make the transition from comedian to actor
03:23
Pat Morita on he and his representatives realizing he wanted to be an actor, and on what it takes to make it as an actor
02:50
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
01:46
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
Pat Morita on appearing on M*A*S*H
02:00
Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
04:57
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
29:31
Pat Morita on playing "Arnold" on Happy Days
09:00
Pat Morita on starring on Mr. T. & Tina,
04:33
Pat Morita on appearing on Welcome Back, Kotter
01:44
Pat Morita on appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son
16:04
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
02:51

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Pat Morita on starring in Ohara
03:11
Pat Morita on appearing in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo
02:28

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Pat Morita on how he came to appear on The Hollywood Palace
07:59

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
07:19
Pat Morita on appearing in Hiroshima
02:09
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award
01:42
Pat Morita on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore
02:46
Pat Morita on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate
05:17
People

Anson Williams

View Person Page
Pat Morita on Anson Williams as "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
02:04

Donny Most

View Person Page
Pat Morita on Donny Most as "Ralph Malph" on Happy Days
02:10

Drew Barrymore

View Person Page
Pat Morita on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore
02:46

Erin Moran

View Person Page
Pat Morita on Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days
01:46

Garry Marshall

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Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
04:57
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
09:00
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
02:51

Henry Winkler

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Pat Morita on working with Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days
02:55

James Komack

View Person Page
Pat Morita on leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack
03:00

Jerry Belson

View Person Page
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
09:00

Jerry Paris

View Person Page
Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
04:57

Kirk Douglas

View Person Page
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award
01:42

Larry Gelbart

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Pat Morita on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate and The Day the World Ended
05:17

Marion Ross

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Pat Morita on working with Marion Ross and "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days
01:51

Mel Blanc

View Person Page
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
03:31

Nancy Walker

View Person Page
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
02:51

Redd Foxx

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Pat Morita on appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
05:47
Pat Morita on his friendship with Redd Foxx
01:42

Ron Howard

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Pat Morita on working with Ron Howard as "Ritchie Cunningham" on Happy Days
02:29

Tom Bosley

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Pat Morita on working with Tom Bosley as "Howard Cunningham" on Happy Days
01:47

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