Ralph Macchio
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Ralph George Macchio Jr. (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born November 4, 1961) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid films (1984–1989, 2025), a role he reprised in the martial arts series Cobra Kai (2018–2025). For his work in the latter, he was nominated for two Critics' Choice Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2024, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Macchio's film appearances include the coming-of-age crime drama The Outsiders (1983), the comedy My Cousin Vinny (1992), and the musical drama Crossroads (1986). He also held recurring roles in the comedy drama series Eight Is Enough (1980–1981) and Ugly Betty (2008–2009), and in the drama series The Deuce (2017–2019).
Early lifeEdit
Macchio was born in Huntington, New York in 1961.<ref name="biocom" /> He is the son of Rosalie (née DeSantis) and Ralph George Macchio Sr., who owned a few laundromats and a wastewater disposal company. Macchio has a younger brother named Steven.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His father is of half Italian and half Greek<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> descent, and his mother is of Italian ancestry.<ref>Q&A With Executive Producer Ralph Macchio Template:Webarchive. National Geographic Channel.</ref> In a 1980 screen test, Macchio said his family was from Naples.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> In 1979, Macchio graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills, New York.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Macchio began tap dancing lessons at the age of three and was discovered by a talent agent at the age of 16.<ref name=biocom/> He also had minimal training in martial arts, as he learned little karate and jiujitsu when he was in elementary school, long before getting the role of Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid film franchise.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
Early rolesEdit
Macchio was cast as Jeremy Andretti for a season in the television series Eight Is Enough.<ref name=biocom/> He next won the role of Johnny Cade in the 1983 film The Outsiders.<ref name=biocom/>
Karate Kid filmsEdit
Macchio's work on The Outsiders helped him win the role of Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 blockbuster film The Karate Kid. Macchio continued to portray the character in two of its sequels, The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989).<ref name=biocom/><ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref> In The Karate Kid, Macchio portrayed a "high school weakling turned bullybuster"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who learns karate from his friend and mentor, Mr. Miyagi (portrayed by Pat Morita).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Macchio's work in the Karate Kid series made him "stratospherically famous."<ref name="auto"/>
Later rolesEdit
Macchio appeared in the 1986 film Crossroads, portraying music student Eugene Martone. That same year, Macchio starred in Cuba and His Teddy Bear on Broadway, alongside Robert De Niro.<ref name=biocom/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1992, Macchio starred opposite Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei in the hit comedy film My Cousin Vinny, playing Billy Gambini, who was wrongfully accused of murder while passing through a small Alabama town.<ref name=biocom/> In 1996, Macchio performed the lead role of J. Pierrepont Finch in the U.S. tour revival of the 1962 Tony Award-winning musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and received positive reviews. Referring to his performance as a chorister in a high school production of the same musical, Macchio said, "I was known as the 'Dancing Kid,' not that I was all that great. But I had been dancing since the age of three, taking lessons at the June Claire School of Dance in Babylon, Long Island."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2005, Macchio played himself in the HBO series Entourage.<ref name=biocom/> Beginning in October 2008, Macchio appeared in several episodes of the ABC Network television series Ugly Betty as Archie Rodriguez, a local politician who is Hilda's love interest.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of November 2008, Macchio was ranked No. 80 among VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On September 20, 2010, Macchio played the adult Carl Morelli in a staged reading of the Charles Messina play A Room of My Own presented by The Bleecker Street Theatre Company.<ref name=Lenzi>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February 2011, it was announced that Macchio would compete on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. He was eliminated during the semi-finals, placing fourth in the overall competition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Macchio appeared in Canadian band Danko Jones' music videos for "Had Enough" and "I Think Bad Thoughts."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 2012, Macchio was cast in the film Hitchcock, based on the non-fiction book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. He portrayed Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stefano.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Post-Karate Kid and Cobra KaiEdit
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Macchio appeared in the 2007 music video for the song "Sweep the Leg" by No More Kings as a caricature of himself and Daniel LaRusso from The Karate Kid.<ref name="starred">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="officialnomorekings">Template:YouTube</ref>
In June 2010, Macchio appeared in Funny or Die's online short, "Wax On, F*ck Off", in which his loved ones stage an intervention to turn the former child star from a well-adjusted family man into an addict besieged with tabloid scandal in order to help his career, with frequent references to The Karate Kid.<ref>"Wax On, F*ck Off with Ralph Macchio" Template:Webarchive Funny or Die; 2010</ref> A recurring joke in the sketch is that Macchio is confused for an adolescent. The short was lauded by TV Guide's Bruce Fretts, who referred to the video as "sidesplitting" and "comic gold."<ref>Fretts, Bruce. "Cheers & Jeers"; TV Guide; July 5, 2010; Page 92</ref>
In 2013, Macchio appeared in How I Met Your Mother. One of the main characters, Barney Stinson, asserts that Macchio's character, Daniel LaRusso, in The Karate Kid is not the real karate kid; instead, it is Johnny Lawrence, Daniel's nemesis in the film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
During a celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Karate Kid at the Japanese American National Museum in 2014, Macchio said that the yellow 1947 Ford convertible that his character Daniel receives from Mr. Miyagi in the first film was sitting in his garage.<ref name=grown>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On August 4, 2017, it was announced that Macchio would reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso in a 10-episode Karate Kid revival series for YouTube Red titled Cobra Kai that debuted in 2018. Macchio also co-executive produces the series with William Zabka.<ref name="biocom" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The series begins 33 years after the events of the first film, and re-examines the "Miyagi-Verse" narrative from Johnny's point of view, beginning with his decision to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo, and the rekindling of his old rivalry with Daniel, who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his now deceased mentor, Mr. Miyagi.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="reunion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=mat>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2022, Macchio published the memoir Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me (Dutton), in which he reflects upon the legacy of the Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai.<ref name="HR1022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Macchio was introduced to his future wife, Phyllis Fierro, by his grandmother when he was 15. They got married on April 5, 1987, and have two children, a daughter named Julia (b. 1992) and a son named Daniel (b. 1996, named after Ralph's character Daniel LaRusso).<ref name="big50" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fierro is a nurse practitioner.<ref name="big50">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=grown /> Julia appeared in seasons 4 and 5 of Cobra Kai, portraying her father's character's cousin named Vanessa LaRusso.<ref name=":1" />
Macchio is a fan of the New York Islanders hockey team and was featured as the team's celebrity captain in the 1991 Pro Set Platinum trading card series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A 2016 bobblehead promotion saw his likeness in the team's uniform donning the iconic 'crane kick' pose from The Karate Kid.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Macchio earned his black belt in karate in April 2025,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> a little more than 40 years after portraying Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid. In 2023, Macchio said that before the filming, he was trained in the Okinawan Gōjū-ryū defensive style of karate used by Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi character.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2025, Macchio and his Karate Kid: Legends co-star Jackie Chan were awarded an honorary black belt by the World Karate Federation during the film's New York premiere.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FilmographyEdit
FilmEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Up the Academy | Chooch Bambalazi | |
| 1982 | High Powder | Eddie | Television film |
| Dangerous Company | Denny Brody | ||
| 1983 | The Outsiders | Johnny Cade | |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | Daniel LaRusso | |
| Teachers | Eddie Pilikian | ||
| The Three Wishes of Billy Grier | Billy Grier | Television film | |
| 1986 | Crossroads | Eugene Martone | |
| The Karate Kid Part II | Daniel LaRusso | ||
| 1988 | Distant Thunder | Jack Lambert | |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III | Daniel LaRusso | |
| 1991 | Too Much Sun | Frank Jr. | |
| 1992 | The Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story | Robert Garwood | Television film |
| My Cousin Vinny | Bill Gambini | ||
| 1993 | Naked in New York | Chris | |
| 1996 | Journey Home: The Animals of Farthing Wood | Fox | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 1998 | Dizzyland | N/A | Short film |
| The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue | Timmy Brisby | Voice, direct-to-video | |
| 1999 | Can't Be Heaven | Hubbie Darling | |
| 2000 | The Office Party | Sean | Short film |
| 2001 | Popcorn Shrimp | Cop #2 | |
| 2003 | A Good Night to Die | Donnie | |
| 2006 | Beer League | Maz | |
| 2009 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead | Bobby Bianchi | |
| 2010 | Wax On, F*ck Off<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Himself, concept writer | Short film |
| 2012 | Hitchcock | Joseph Stefano | |
| Holiday Spin | Ruben | Television film | |
| 2013 | He's Way More Famous Than You | Himself | |
| Across Grace Alley | Father | Short film | |
| 2014 | A Little Game | Tom | |
| 2015 | Lost Cat Corona | Dominic | |
| 2017 | Psych: The Movie | Nick Conforth | Television film |
| 2018 | A Dog and Pony Show | Aaron | |
| 2025 | Karate Kid: Legends | Daniel LaRusso | Also executive producer |
TelevisionEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1981 | Eight Is Enough | Jeremy Andretti | Recurring role (19 episodes) |
| 1982 | CBS Afternoon Playhouse | Tony Barnett | Episode: "Journey to Survival" |
| 1999 | The Outer Limits | Dr. Neal Eberhardt | Episode: "The Other Side" |
| 2000 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Max | Episode: "Letters to Suzie" |
| Twice in a Lifetime | Officer Dan Payello/Phillip Barbosa | Episode: "My Blue Heaven" | |
| 2005 | Entourage | Himself | Episode: "Aquamansion" |
| 2007 | Head Case | Episode: "Ralph Macchio and Liz Phair" | |
| 2008–2009 | Ugly Betty | Archie Rodriguez | Recurring role (11 episodes) |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Louis Marciano | Episode: "Inhumane Society" |
| Psych | Nick Conforth | Episode: "We'd Like to Thank the Academy" | |
| 2011 | The Whole Truth | Frankie Berlito | Episode: "Lost in Translation" |
| Dancing with the Stars | Himself (contestant) | Placed in fourth (17 episodes) | |
| 2012 | Happily Divorced | Frankie | Episodes: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place" (Parts 1 & 2) |
| 2013 | Robot Chicken | Daniel LaRusso, Colonel Steven Shay, Janitor | Voice, episode: "Caffeine-Induced Aneurysm" |
| How I Met Your Mother | Himself | Episode: "The Bro Mitzvah" | |
| 2014 | Psych | Logan Phelps | Episode: "Remake A.K.A. Cloudy... With a Chance of Improvement" |
| 2016 | Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe | Himself/roaster | Television special |
| 2017–2019 | The Deuce | Officer Haddix | Recurring role (17 episodes) |
| 2017 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Himself | Special Guest (Season 13, Episode 8) |
| 2018 | Kevin Can Wait | Alviti<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | 2 episodes: "The Smoking Bun" and "Phat Monkey" |
| Conan | Himself | citation | CitationClass=web
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| 2018–2025 | Cobra Kai | Daniel LaRusso | Main role, also directed "Sleeper" Continuation of The Karate Kid film series |
TheatreEdit
| Year | Production | Role | Theater |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Cuba and his Teddy Bear | Teddy | The Public Theater |
| 1996–1997 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | J. Pierrepont Finch | US national tour<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
Music videosEdit
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Sweep the Leg | No More Kings | Himself / Daniel LaRusso |
| 2010 | "Had Enough" | Danko Jones | Dr. Lee Dorian |
| 2011 | "I Think Bad Thoughts" | ||
| 2012 | "The Ballad of Danko Jones" | ||
| 2024 | "The Karate Kid" | Coldplay | Busker |
Video gamesEdit
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues | Daniel LaRusso |
| 2022 | Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising |
BookEdit
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ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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