On November 24th, 2005, the entertainment world lost a beloved entertainer and artist with the death of Pat Morita. A native of California, he was born on June 28th, 1932. He was widely known and respected for his role as Mr. Miyagi in the 1984 hit movie The Karate Kid. He also starred in a large number of films, TV shows and voice acting roles. His career in entertainment began after being discharged from the US Army in the early 1950’s. He was a popular standup comedian, and even opened for the likes of Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, and Nat King Cole. In addition to his acting career, Morita had a passion for golf, and drove for charity golf tournaments. He was also active in donating to the Special Olympics. Morita was an inspiration for many actors, and not just because of his diverse roles. He was also an advocate for cultural and ethnic diversity in Hollywood, and played a major part in the progress seen in the industry in recent decades. Morita is survived by his daughter, Aly, as well as many family and friends. He will be fondly remembered by all of those who were fortunate enough to know his kind and generous spirit.