Ralph Macchio

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This article is about the actor. For the comic book editor, see Ralph Macchio (comics).

Ralph George Macchio (born November 4, 1961) is an Italian American actor. He is best remembered for his role as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series.

[edit] Career

Born in Huntington, New York, on Long Island, he attended Half Hollow Hills HS West.

Macchio began his acting career during the 1970s, as star of television commercials for products like Bubble Yum and Dr Pepper. In 1983, he starred alongside Patrick Swayze and Matt Dillon in The Outsiders. It wasn't until 1984, however, that he became an international teen idol, after the release of the first Karate Kid movie, where he starred alongside Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. Macchio became one of the most famous teen idols of the mid-1980s, his face appearing on the cover of many teen "bubble gum" magazines such as Tiger Beat, 16, and Teen Beat.

Macchio participated in three Karate Kid movies, which came out in 1984, 1986 and 1989, respectively. However, after The Karate Kid, Part III, his fame as a teen idol began to wane.

In 1987, he married Phyllis Fierro, with whom he has a son and a daughter. In 1992, in his last major role to date, he starred opposite Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei in the hit comedy My Cousin Vinny, playing the part of a big city boy wrongly accused of murder while passing through a small Southern town.

He has worked as film director a few times and also appeared in some minor films. Also of note is his appearance in the film Crossroads. He played music student Eugene Martone, who battles Jack Butler (played by guitarist Steve Vai), a protégé of the Devil.

He was recently seen in an episode of the HBO series Entourage with Hugh Hefner. He currently lives in Miller Place, New York in Long Island with his wife and children.

Recently, DJ Q-Ball of the Bloodhound Gang released a song on his MySpace called "The Ralph Macchio Memoirs".

Poetry slam artist Big Poppa E references Ralph Macchio in his performance poem The Wussy Boy Manifesto.

[edit] Credits

Beer League (2006, Maz)
Entourage HBO series, episode 11 Aquamansion (2005, as himself)
A Good Night to Die (2003, Donnie)
Popcorn Shrimp (2001, as a cop)
The Office Party (2000, Sean)
Can't Be Heaven (2000, Hubbie Darling)
Dizzyland (1998)
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue (1998, video, voice of Tim)
Naked in New York (1993, Chris)
My Cousin Vinny (1992, Billy Gambini, alongside Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei)
The Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story (1992, television movie, Robert Garwood)
Too Much Sun (1991, Frank Jr.)
The Karate Kid, Part III (1989)
Distant Thunder (1988, Jack Lambert)
The Karate Kid, Part II (1986)
Crossroads (1986, Eugene Martone)
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier (1984, television movie, Billy Grier)
Teachers (1984, Eddie Pilikian)
The Karate Kid (1984, Daniel LaRusso)
The Outsiders (1983, Johnny Cade)
High Powder (1982, television movie, Eddie)
Dangerous Company (1982, television movie, Denny Brody)
Eight is Enough (1980, television series, Jeremy Andretti)
Up the Academy (1980, Chooch Bambalazi)