Muere Pat Morita

His portrayal of the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in the “Karate Kid” films earned him an Oscar nomination, has passed away at age 73. The Associated Press reports that Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes. Evelyn, his wife of 12 years, said in a statement that her husband, who first rose to fame with a role on Happy Days, had “dedicated his entire life to acting and comedy.” In 1984, he appeared in the role that would define his career and spawn countless affectionate imitations. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to Ralph Macchio’s “Daniel-san,” he taught karate while trying to catch flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as “wax on, wax off” to guide Daniel through chores to improve his skills.