Ralph Macchio Biography
Ralph Macchio is an American actor of Italian descent who shot to fame in the mid-'80s playing young Daniel LaRusso in the "Karate Kid" trilogy. The actor experienced a second wave of popularity in 2018 with the release of "Cobra Kai," a continuation of "The Karate Kid." In this continuation, LaRusso, now a successful car salesman, opens his own dojo.
Childhood, Adolescence, Family
Ralph was born in fall 1961 to Ralph George Macchio and Rosalie DeSantis, growing up in a well-to-do New York family.His father owned a laundry chain and waste treatment company and comes from a Greek-Italian family, while his mother is Italian. The actor also has a younger brother named Steven.
Ralph started tap dancing at age three and performed in various competitions. At 16, he entered a local dance contest performing as Eddie Cantor, the famous American comedic actor. After his performance, a talent scout approached him and offered him a role in a commercial.
Soon, Ralph began working with companies like Hershey's and Dr. Pepper, and he advertised Bubble Yum chewing gum. But at the time, acting was just a hobby for him. Case in point: when he had to choose between shooting a commercial or hitting a beach party, he picked the party.
Acting Career
Ralph Macchio's first film appearance was as Chooch in the comedy "Up the Academy." At the same time, he played the teenage heartthrob Jeremy Andretti in the series "Eight is Enough" and starred in two music videos.Director John G. Avildsen saw Macchio's performance as Johnny Cade and cast him in the martial arts youth film "The Karate Kid" (1984). Ralph was perfect for the lead role of Daniel LaRusso, the new kid at a school terrorized by bullies from the Cobra Kai dojo. With the help of his new mentor, Japanese karate master Mr. Miyagi, Daniel grows stronger and defeats his main tormentor – Johnny Lawrence, Cobra Kai's top student.
In the sequel, LaRusso travels to Japan with his master, and in the third film, he faces a new cunning enemy, Terry Silver, an army buddy of the Cobra Kai sensei.This was like ballet. We barely touched each other. I had some dance training as a kid, and these fight scenes were choreographed, so I learned the choreography well. I had long, lanky limbs, so I looked like a crane... I used that to my advantage. As for being a technical fighter, I had a long way to go.
While filming the three "Karate Kid" movies, Macchio landed the lead role in another film, "Crossroads." In Walter Hill's musical drama, he played ambitious young guitarist Eugene Martone, who dreams of becoming the world's greatest blues musician. To achieve this goal, he makes a deal with Old Scratch, and the story follows classic genre conventions. Ralph's co-star was Joe Seneca, who played old Willie, a man who had experienced the price of a deal with the devil firsthand.
In the 1980s, Ralph tried his hand at Broadway, appearing in "Cuba and His Teddy Bear" and the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
In 1990, he starred with Robert Downey Jr. in the comedy "Too Much Sun," in 1992 played one of the main roles in the movie "My Cousin Vinny" alongside Marisa Tomei and Joe Pesci, and then largely stepped away from the spotlight for many years, making occasional TV appearances (such as "Dancing with the Stars" in 2011, where he finished fourth) and series with cameos ("Entourage," "How I Met Your Mother").
In 2012, he appeared in the biographical film "Hitchcock" – played screenwriter Joseph Stefano, who had adapted Robert Bloch's novel "Psycho" for Alfred Hitchcock's film adaptation....In the first season, viewers will see the search for a balance between the American dream and centuries-old Romani traditions... Romani court, wedding, conflicts, and dilemmas...
Macchio experienced a career resurgence in 2018 with the premiere of the series "Cobra Kai," which is a direct continuation of the "Karate Kid" trilogy. The story follows how two former rivals have evolved over the decades: Johnny, once a successful athlete, became a down-and-out alcoholic who, disillusioned with life, decides to open a karate school under the old name "Cobra Kai."
Ralph's character, the successful owner of a chain of car dealerships Daniel LaRusso, mourning the death of his mentor Mr. Miyagi, worries that the "Cobras" will terrorize local kids again, so he opens his own dojo teaching Miyagi's principles.
Young students Lawrence and LaRusso in the series were played by Xolo Maridueña (Miguel), Mary Mouser (Samantha), and Tanner Buchanan (Robby). The show's success was phenomenal – what started as a web series eventually ran for six seasons total.
Talking about his favorite moments from filming the fifth season, Ralph admitted he had two – one comedic and one dramatic, specifically those he was involved in:
...I like in episode ten when they pull me out of the limo with Mike Barnes and the meeting of Johnny, Barnes, and Chozen with Barnes, and they all gather to storm the castle, while Daniel LaRusso is very much like Ed Helms in 'The Hangover,' trying to be the voice of reason and ending up alone. [The second moment] – the end of episode six, entering Mr. Miyagi's old room in the house and the emotions there, and the scene with Amanda, and then the kids come in. And it's like they all rally around Daniel LaRusso, feeling that he may not be as young, but sort of the hero he once was in the original film. It was a good reflection of that moment.
The Personal Life of Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio was just 15 when his grandmother introduced him to Phyllis Fierro, who would later become a nurse. What started as a teenage crush blossomed into lasting love, and the couple married in 1987.The couple remains happily married today, giving gossip columnists nothing to write about. The couple has two children – a daughter, Julia (born 1992), and a son, Daniel (born 1996), named after his dad's iconic "Karate Kid" character.
Both kids have followed their dad into entertainment – Julia's an actress who's appeared in projects like "City on a Hill" and "Cobra Kai," while Daniel works as a screenwriter, composer, and actor across various TV series.
Ralph Macchio Now
As fans eagerly await the sixth and final season of "Cobra Kai" in 2024, news broke that Ralph Macchio has signed on for a new "Karate Kid" feature film. Producers confirm the film won't connect to the "Cobra Kai" storyline, but Macchio will reprise his beloved Daniel LaRusso role.Interesting Facts
- Despite playing bitter rivals in "The Karate Kid" and "Cobra Kai," Ralph Macchio and William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence) are actually best friends – something they revealed in interviews before the series launched.
- When acting roles dried up, Macchio pivoted to producing and screenwriting. In 2002, he directed and wrote "Love Thy Brother," which was released on American screens. He also showcased his dancing skills on "Dancing with the Stars," finishing fourth with partner Karina Smirnoff.
- Ralph Macchio is a die-hard "New York Islanders" hockey fan. The team honored his loyalty by creating a collectible card and bobblehead featuring Macchio in an Islanders uniform. They gave one to Ralph and distributed another 10,000 to fans.