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Pat Morita, who played the iconic martial-arts guru in four Karate Kid movies, and earned an Academy Award nomination for his uncommonly profound car-waxing tips, died Thursday in a Las Vegas hospital. He was 73.
The cause of death was unclear. A daughter told the Associated Press that Morita succumbed to heart failure; his manager told the wire service that the star passed away while awaiting a kidney transplant.
Ralph Macchio, who played Mr. Miyagi's most prolific pupil, Daniel LaRusso, called Morita's death a "sad day" for him and his family.
"Pat Morita was a truly generous actor, a gifted comic, and an even greater friend," Macchio said in a statement Friday. "It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him and create a bit of cinema magic together."
The cause of death was unclear. A daughter told the Associated Press that Morita succumbed to heart failure; his manager told the wire service that the star passed away while awaiting a kidney transplant.
Ralph Macchio, who played Mr. Miyagi's most prolific pupil, Daniel LaRusso, called Morita's death a "sad day" for him and his family.
"Pat Morita was a truly generous actor, a gifted comic, and an even greater friend," Macchio said in a statement Friday. "It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him and create a bit of cinema magic together."
