About
"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."
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.
Highlights

Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson

Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc

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

Pat Morita on how playing "Miyagi" in the "Karate Kid" series of feature films impacted his career

Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors

Pat Morita on appearing on M*A*S*H

Pat Morita on how he'd like to be remembered
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
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award
Babes in Toyland
Pat Morita on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore
Blansky's Beauties
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
Farewell to Manzanar
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
Greyhounds
Pat Morita on appearing in Greyhounds
Happy Days
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Pat Morita on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on his favorite "Arnold" moments on Happy Days
Pat Morita on people accepting his "Arnold Takahashi" character on Happy Days, and on why ABC wanted the audience to see him
Pat Morita on working with Tom Bosley as "Howard Cunningham" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on working with Marion Ross and "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on working with Ron Howard as "Ritchie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on working with Henry Winkler as "Fonzie"
on Happy Days
Pat Morita on Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on Anson Williams as "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on Donny Most as "Ralph Malph" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack
Hiroshima
Pat Morita on appearing in Hiroshima
Hollywood Palace, The
Pat Morita on how he came to appear on The Hollywood Palace thanks to his manager Sally Marr who was Lenny Bruce's mother
Love, American Style
Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
M*A*S*H
Pat Morita on appearing on M*A*S*H
Mastergate
Pat Morita on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate
Mr. T. & Tina
Pat Morita on leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack
Pat Morita on the premise of Mr. T. & Tina
Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, The
Pat Morita on appearing in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo
Ohara
Pat Morita on starring in Ohara
Sanford and Son
Pat Morita on appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
Pat Morita on the name of his Sanford and Son character "Ah Chew"
Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son
Welcome Back, Kotter
Pat Morita on appearing on Welcome Back, Kotter
Topics
Advice
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
Pat Morita on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
Emmy Awards
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas, for which he was nominated for an Emmy
Historic Events and Social Change
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
Pat Morita on racism in the television industry
Overcoming Adversity
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
Pivotal Career Moments
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
Pat Morita on what he learned from his friend Redd Foxx during his time on Sanford and Son
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
Pop Culture
Pat Morita on his character of "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
Representation on Television
Pat Morita on racism in the television industry
Television Industry
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
Underrepresented Voices
Pat Morita on racism in the television industry
War
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
World War II
Pat Morita on his family being placed in an internment camp during World War II
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
Professions
Actor
Pat Morita on starting to make the transition from comedian to actor
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
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
Comedian
Pat Morita on getting his foot in the door as a comedian, and on knowing Flip Wilson in the early years
Pat Morita on tailoring his stand up act for television, and on using his Japanese heritage in his act
Pat Morita on starting to make the transition from comedian to actor
Performers
Pat Morita on getting his foot in the door as a comedian, and on knowing Flip Wilson in the early years
Pat Morita on tailoring his stand up act for television, and on using his Japanese heritage in his act
Pat Morita on starting to make the transition from comedian to actor
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
Pat Morita on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Pat Morita on appearing on M*A*S*H
Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on playing "Arnold" on Happy Days
Pat Morita on starring on Mr. T. & Tina,
Pat Morita on appearing on Welcome Back, Kotter
Pat Morita on appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Pat Morita on starring in Ohara
Pat Morita on appearing in The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Pat Morita on how he came to appear on The Hollywood Palace
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Pat Morita on starring in Farewell to Manzanar, which portrayed the Japanese internment camps
Pat Morita on appearing in Hiroshima
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award
Pat Morita on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore
Pat Morita on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate
People
Drew Barrymore
Pat Morita on appearing in Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore
Jerry Belson
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Mel Blanc
Pat Morita on doing voice over for the feature "Mulan," and on being inspired by Mel Blanc
Tom Bosley
Pat Morita on working with Tom Bosley as "Howard Cunningham" on Happy Days
Kirk Douglas
Pat Morita on appearing in Amos with Kirk Douglas for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award
Redd Foxx
Pat Morita on appearing as "Ah Chew" on Sanford and Son and on his friendship with Redd Foxx
Pat Morita on his friendship with Redd Foxx
Larry Gelbart
Pat Morita on appearing in Larry Gelbart's Mastergate and The Day the World Ended
Ron Howard
Pat Morita on working with Ron Howard as "Ritchie Cunningham" on Happy Days
James Komack
Pat Morita on leaving Happy Days for Mr. T. & Tina, produced by James Komack
Garry Marshall
Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
Pat Morita on being cast as "Arnold Takahashi" on Happy Days by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
Erin Moran
Pat Morita on Erin Moran as "Joanie Cunningham" on Happy Days
Donny Most
Pat Morita on Donny Most as "Ralph Malph" on Happy Days
Jerry Paris
Pat Morita on appearing on Love, American Style, where he worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris
Marion Ross
Pat Morita on working with Marion Ross and "Marion Cunningham" on Happy Days
Nancy Walker
Pat Morita on appearing in Garry Marshall's show Blansky's Beauties with Nancy Walker
Anson Williams
Pat Morita on Anson Williams as "Potsie Webber" on Happy Days
Henry Winkler
Pat Morita on working with Henry Winkler as "Fonzie" on Happy Days