Ralph Macchio Biography, Ralph George Macchio Jr. born November 4, 1961 is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid films, including the original 1984 movie and its sequels The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989). He is also widely recognized for reprising the role in the Netflix series Cobra Kai (2018–present). Macchio’s career includes other notable roles, such as Johnny Cade in The Outsiders (1983), Jeremy Andretti in the TV series Eight Is Enough, William Gambini in My Cousin Vinny (1992), Eugene Martone in Crossroads (1986), and Archie Rodriguez in Ugly Betty. He also had a recurring role as Officer Haddix in The Deuce.
Ralph Macchio Biography 2024
Ralph George Macchio was born on November 4, 1961, in Huntington, Long Island, New York. He began his career in the late 1970s with appearances in various TV commercials before making his film debut in the teen comedy Up the Academy (1980). That same year, he landed a regular role on the television series Eight Is Enough (1977) and followed it with a notable performance as Johnny Cade in The Outsiders (1983), based on the popular S.E. Hinton novel about troubled youth. In 1984, Macchio rose to fame when he was cast as the lead in The Karate Kid, directed by John G. Avildsen, the same director behind Rocky (1976). The film became a massive hit, resonating with both adults and children, and cemented Macchio’s place in pop culture. The success of the film led to two sequels.
Ralph Macchio Biography 2024 Details
| Born | Ralph George Macchio Jr. November 4, 1961 (age 63) Huntington, New York, U.S. |
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| Occupation | Actor |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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| Spouse | |
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| Children | 2 |
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| Category | Singers Bio |
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Ralph Macchio Latest News
Ralph Macchio was honored with the 2,795th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a ceremony in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce recognized his extensive work in film and television, particularly his iconic roles in The Outsiders, My Cousin Vinny, and the Karate Kid franchise.
Macchio is best known for portraying Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, with the original three films from the ’80s, and later reprising the role in the Cobra Kai TV series, which debuted in 2018. At the ceremony, the 63-year-old actor expressed his delight that his star was placed next to that of his Karate Kid co-star, the late Pat Morita, who portrayed the beloved Mr. Miyagi. Morita passed away in 2005 at the age of 73.
Macchio humorously remarked, “It is only fitting I shall remain Miyagi-adjacent until the end of time,” and shared his gratitude for the recognition. Reflecting on his journey, he added, “I’ve just learned to be so grateful and appreciative at this age in my life, absorbing and learning and sharing the wisdom that I’ve gained from others, paying that legacy forward.
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About Ralph Macchio
Ralph George Macchio Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for playing Daniel LaRusso in three Karate Kid films, as well as in Cobra Kai, a sequel television series on YouTube Premium and Netflix.
- Born: 4 November 1961 (age 63 years), Huntington, New York, United States
- Spouse: Phyllis Fierro (m. 1987)
- Children: Daniel Macchio, Julia Macchio
- Height: 1.75 m
- Parents: Rosalie Macchio, Ralph Macchio, Sr.
- Siblings: Steven Macchio
Early Life
Macchio was born in Huntington, New York, in 1961 to Rosalie (née DeSantis) and Ralph George Macchio Sr., who ran several laundromats and a wastewater disposal business. He has a younger brother named Steven. His father is of mixed Italian and Greek descent, while his mother is of Italian heritage. In a 1980 screen test, Macchio mentioned that his family hails from Naples. He graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills, New York, in 1979. Macchio began taking tap dance lessons at the age of three and was discovered by a talent agent when he was 16.
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Ralph Macchio Net Worth
Ralph Macchio, an American actor known for his roles in TV and film, has an estimated net worth of $8 million. He gained widespread fame for portraying Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid film series and its sequel TV series, Cobra Kai.
Early Life
Ralph George Macchio Jr. was born on November 4, 1961, in Huntington, New York. His parents, Rosalie and Ralph Sr., owned a ranch. He is of Italian and Greek descent and began tap dancing at the age of three.
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Career
Macchio’s career began at age 16 when he was cast in a recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the TV series Eight Is Enough (1980-1981). His film debut came in Up the Academy (1980), followed by a breakout role in The Outsiders (1983). This role helped him secure the iconic part of Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid (1984), which propelled him into stardom. The film was so successful it led to two sequels: The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989). Macchio also starred in several other films, such as Crossroads (1986), Distant Thunder (1988), My Cousin Vinny (1992), Naked in New York (1993), A Good Night to Die (2003), Hitchcock (2012), A Little Game (2014), and Psych: The Movie (2017).
On television, Macchio made guest appearances on Entourage (2005), Ugly Betty (2008), and How I Met Your Mother (2013), and competed in Dancing with the Stars (2011), where he placed fourth. Macchio also has a background in stage acting, starring in plays like Cuba and His Teddy Bear (1986) with Robert De Niro and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1996). He later performed in A Room of My Own (2016) Off-Broadway.
Cobra Kai
In 2018, Macchio reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai, a YouTube series that later moved to Netflix. He and co-star William Zabka, who plays Johnny Lawrence, reportedly earned $100,000 per episode for the first two seasons, totaling about $1 million per season each. They also serve as co-executive producers on the series.
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Personal Life
Macchio is married to Phyllis Fierro, a nurse practitioner, and they have two children. They married in 1987 after being introduced by his grandmother when he was just 15 years old. Macchio is also known for owning the 1947 yellow Ford that he famously waxes in The Karate Kid.
Real Estate
Ralph and Phyllis own an ocean-view property in Montauk, New York, valued between $4 million and $6 million. When not in use, the property can be rented for as much as $40,000 per month.
