R.I.P. Pat Morita

According to Celebrity Death Beeper, Pat Morita died on Thanksgiving.

Most people probably only knew him as Karate Kid's Mr. Miyagi, but he also had roles in Happy Days, The Odd Couple, and Green Acres. More recently, he did work in Spy Hard, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Mulan.

According to the Associated Press, he overcame spinal tuberculosis, life in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II, an attempt at standup comedy (then quitting because "prospects for a Japanese-American standup comic seemed poor"), and a full-time job in computers ... before deciding to follow his dream and go into show business full time.

Now that's staring down defeat. For you guys who talked me through "It's not as bad as cancer," I think I'm starting to get the idea. I have great respect for a man who overcame some pretty rough stuff thrown at him early in life.

He could've chosen the safe route after the war, fixing computers or working in his parents' restaurant. But the safe route wouldn't have made him one of the most recognized characters in Hollywood and wouldn't have earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Also, it wouldn't have inspired millions of people to try to catch flies with a pair of chopsticks. Go on and admit it. I know you've done it.