Who’s Yukiye Kitahara? Unknown Facts About Pat Morita’s Ex-Wife

Pat Morita was widely known for playing famous sensei Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid.” Morita died in 2005. An estimated $5 million was his net worth at death.

It was a remarkable marriage for Pat Morita. Triple-married. He married three people. Yukiye Kitahara was his second lady. Former wives Evelyn Guerrero and Kathleen Yamachi.

Tia and Aly Morita were conceived by Pat Morita’s partner, Yukiye Kitahara.

Mr. Miyagi’s brilliant actor has opened up about his personal life. I hope you enjoyed this tour of his life.

Quick Facts 

Value of Kitahar’s Ex-Husband

Yukiye Kitahara protects her privacy and keeps her finances private. Before his death, her ex-husband Pat Morita was worth $5 million. She seemed to have had a luxury existence like Kirbie Wallace thanks to his fortune.

Pat Morita is most known for his part in “The Karate Kid” franchise, which grossed over $176.5 million at the box office during its debut film.

Pat Morita and Yukiye Kitahara had Tia and Aly Morita during their 19-year marriage. Both daughters seem to prefer a peaceful life away from the spotlight.

Tia became a researcher instead of acting like her father. Quite different from showbiz. However, Aly Morita writes books and short tales.

So there you have it—a view into Pat Morita’s family’s private life and job choices, with a hint of intrigue and diversity.

Yukiye Kitahara Husband married history

Marriage was difficult for Pat Morita. He married soon after graduating from Armijo High School in Fairfield, California. Erin Morita, born in 1954, was their daughter after 14 years together.

He married Yuki, his second wife, in 1970. Aly and Tia were born from this marriage. Not everything was easy for them. The mudslide that damaged their uninsured Tarzana, California house was one of several obstacles they faced. The family was lucky to escape with their clothes. In addition, their youngest daughter Tia was diagnosed with kidney illness. Their marriage ended in 1982 due to these struggles.

This is Pat Morita’s third marriage. He met 15-year-old Evelyn Louise Guerrero because her mother worked with Sally Marr. Later, life brought them together, and they married in Las Vegas on March 26, 1994. They were blissfully married until Pat Morita’s death. They had no children.

Pat Morita’s love life had its ups and downs, but he found enduring happiness with Evelyn, as they stayed together till the end.

How many daughters does Yukiye Kitahara have?

Morita Kitahara and her ex-husband have two daughters during their 19-year marriage. Their names are Tia and Aly Morita. Both daughters live quietly and avoid the spotlight. One thing about Tia is that she is a researcher, unlike her father.

However, Aly Morita has written books and short stories. Aly is more prominent in the media than Kitahara’s other daughter. She made waves for urging people to skip The Karate Kid (2010).

Aly’s father’s classic was remade as The Karate Kid. Hyphen Magazine said the movie stereotyped Asian Americans.

Kitahar’s Ex-Husband  career

Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) was Pat’s first film role as a conventional henchman. Midway (1976) cast him as Rear Admiral Ryunosuke Kusaka. On M*A*S*H, the comic played South Korean Army Captain Sam Pak, which helped boost his acting career.[7]

As Arnold’s diner owner Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi, Pat appeared in ABC’s Happy Days. In Mr. T and Tina, the first Asian American network sitcom, he played inventor Taro Takahashi after leaving Happy Days after the first season (1975–1976). In fall 1976, ABC-TV dropped the Saturday-night sitcom after a month. As Arnold, Morita appeared in Blansky’s Beauties in 1977. Morita again appeared on Happy Days in 1982–1983. He appeared in The Odd Couple and Sanford and Son in the mid-1970s.

Morita played wise karate master Keisuke Miyagi in The Karate Kid, who taught young “Daniel-san” LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).[8] The Karate Kid, Part II (1986), Part III (1989), and The Next Karate Kid (1994, with Hilary Swank) reprised his role as sensei Mr. Miyagi. Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Only for The Karate Kid did Noriyuki learn karate. Producer Jerry Weintraub suggested Pat use his birth name to be more ethnic after years of using “Pat Morita”.[9]

Morita’s Early Life Was Filled with Struggle

Baywatch actor Morita had a busy childhood. He could claim that spinal TB and an Arizona detention camp were his worst fates. When the US-Japan conflict began, Morita and his family faced many problems.

He and his family lived in wartime concentration camps. Kitahara’s ex-husband was a child. After the war, he could return to normal life, but living in camps for so long at such a young age harmed his mental health.

Morita, who played Ralph Maccio’s sensei in The Karate Kid, struggled before the war. TB in his spine appeared at two years old. He appeared unable to move again due to the dire scenario. Like his character Mr. Miyagi, he overcame life’s hardships.

Was Kitahara’s Ex-Husband’s Alcoholic?

Alcoholism plagued Morita for most of his life. He started drinking regularly at 12. This caused additional issues, including his romantic relationships.

Whether drinking contributed to Yuki Kitahara and Morita’s divorce is unknown. Alcohol wrecked his personal and professional life, including unemployment. In his documentary “More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story,” he discusses his drinking.

Death of Kitahara’s Ex-Husband, Morita?

Morita, the ex-husband of Yukiye Kitahara, passed away on November 24, 2005, at the age of 73. What led to the death of the actor from The Karate Kid is still unknown. Mr. Miyagi’s demise has been attributed to both heart failure and kidney failure.

According to Metro, the difficulty in determining Morita’s cause of death resulted from the conflicting comments made by his daughter and manager. According to the story, Kitahara’s spouse passed away due to kidney failure, but his daughter Aly attributed his death to heart failure.

What was the Net Worth of Kitahar’s Ex-Husband?

Yukiye Kitahara has resolved to maintain the confidentiality of all areas of her personal life, including the amount of wealth she presently possesses. This decision includes the number of money she presently possesses. Businessman Pat Morita, her ex-husband, died with a $5 million net worth. Morita supported herself and her family by acting.

He was in several films and TV shows, but the Karate Kid franchise is what made him famous. The first film in the franchise has grossed about $176.5 million since its theatrical release.