Actor Pat Morita dies at 73

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/entertainment/music/13255945.htm ^

[wireman]

Happy Days jumped the shark before Happy Days invented jumping the shark.

Hmm. I guess that is what I'm saying.

[buccaneer81]

Wasn't he also on "Barney Miller"? I always thought it was one of he better shows. It used good writing and characters for laughs rather than vulgarity or trendy ideas.

No, that was the late Jack Soo.

[fieldmarshaldj]

No, he wasn't on Barney Miller. You're confusing him with the late great film & stage actor, Jack Soo (who played Detective Nick Yemana).

[fieldmarshaldj]

Darn, 54 seconds.

[Erik Latranyi]

I think it is great that we do not know his politics, but everyone knows of the hours of entertainment he provided us.

Pat Morita -- a role model for Hollywood.

[skaterboy]

Hillary Swank a dollie?

if u say so

[Dilbert56]

IIRC he croaked the national anthem at the 2000 Democratic Convention. Still, he at least sang it to the end while the prior night's singer, Melissa Ethridge, couldn't bear to.

[skaterboy]

He was a demo..he said the pledge at the convention last year i believe

[Diligent]

He also played a recurring role on a few of the early episodes of M*A*S*H as I recall

[timsbella]

Still a great movie and role model for kids. Of course mine were trying to catch a housefly with their chopsticks for days after seeing it.

[bigsigh]

Not familiar with his TV stuff except Happy Days. Thanx.

[bigsigh]

better list

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001552/

[Nachum]

R.I.P. Pat.

[MilspecRob]

Yes he was. I thought he was great as was the show, it was a Must watch in my house.

[Ghengis]

He was in a movie with Jay Leno a long time back. I am forgetting the name because it wasn't that memorable.

Collision Course from 1989. And it was bad, bad, bad.

That being said, Mr. Morita was an enjoyable screen personality who entertained us for many years. RIP.

[Senator Goldwater]

"Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with spinal tuberculosis. He later recovered only to be sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II."

Sounds like he overcame a lot to become an American success story.

Rest in peace, Mr Morita.

[NYDave]

Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of "Natural Causes"........

First of all, may he rest in peace and may God bless his family.

That said........I have a problem with the term "died of natural causes". Does that mean there were no bullet holes? I'm almost 62 and my health is good. If I were to drop dead tomorrow, would that be of "natural causes"? I read somewhere that someone died at age 63 of "NATURAL CAUSES"! What does this mean, "NATURAL CAUSES". Maybe my family would like to know what really happened. What genetic defect did I suffer. What have they inherited from me. Damn, I would like to know. My Father died of "natural causes". What does that mean?!? What weakness am I carrying around that may cause my premature demise? You get my point. Let's wake up the medical community and make them tell us in detail how our loved ones have demised. Don't patronize me with "NATUAL CAUSES"...balderdash, y'all!!!!

[lunarbicep]

Jack Soo as Det. Nick Yemana (1975-1978) on Barney Miller

[andyk]

RIP, Mr. Morita. Thanks for the memories; we'll miss you.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I guess that is what I'm saying.

That's what I thought you meant. Couldn't agree more.

"Eeeyah, yehp, yehp.yehp."