How Old Mr. Miyagi Was In Karate Kid & When He Died

In The Karate Kid films, Pat Morita portrayed the iconic character of Mr. Miyagi, a wise and dry-witted mentor to both Daniel LaRusso and Julie Pierce. Mr. Miyagi was born on June 9, 1925, in Tomi Village Okinawa, Japan, where he learned the trade of fisherman and the art of karate from his father. Miyagi eventually immigrated to Hawaii, working as a farm laborer in the Hawaiian cane fields, where he met his wife. During the onset of World War II, Miyagi and his wife were placed in an internment camp, where he eventually chose to serve in the U.S. Army, ultimately receiving a Medal of Honor.

While overseas, his wife passed away along with his newborn child due to "complications arising during childbirth", while they were still interned. This devastating loss deeply affected him, and upon his return from war, he struggled to fully recover. Miyagi transitioned into becoming a maintenance worker for an apartment complex and built the Japanese garden in the back of his home, which is shown in Cobra Kai. This is where viewers were first introduced to Mr. Miyagi, marking the beginning of his unforgettable journey in The Karate Kid franchise.

Source: Screen Rant