Where are the cast of the Karate Kid now? From Ralph Macchio to Elisabeth Shue

THE Karate Kid movie was one of the most iconic teen films of the 80s. It has now been over 35 years since the film was released and has been succeeded in 2020 by Netflix’s Cobra Kai. Where are the cast of the Karate Kid now? Cast your mind back to 1984 when Daniel son […]

THE Karate Kid movie was one of the most iconic teen films of the 80s.

It has now been over 35 years since the film was released and has been succeeded in 2020 by Netflix’s Cobra Kai.

Where are the cast of the Karate Kid now?

Cast your mind back to 1984 when Daniel son was waxing on and waxing off.

Under the careful guidance of his sensei Mr Miyagi, he went on to become a karate champ.

The film was a huge hit in the 80s, but has left us wondering – where are the cast now?

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso

Then: Charlie Sheen was actually offered the role of Daniel LaRusso before it went to Ralph.

Although he played a high school student, Ralph was actually 22 when he made Karate Kid.

He reprised the role of Daniel LaRusso in the movie’s sequels, The Karate Kid Part II and The Karate Kid Part III and was actually 27-years-old when the trilogy came to an end.

Ralph landed the part after he impressed producers with his performance as Johnny Cade in the 1983 film The Outsider

Now: Hold on to your hat here, because Ralph is now 58 years old.

Ralph currently stars in Cobra Kai, which is a Karate Kid spin-off show and reprises his role of Daniel.

Cobra Kai takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament.

A now successful Daniel struggles to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr Miyagi.

Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills

Then: Of all the young actors in the Karate Kid, Elisabeth is the one who arguably came away from the film with the highest-profile career.

With only a handful of credits to her name when the film was made, after the success of the movie, she went on to star in other smash hit 80s films including Back To The Future II and III and Cocktail.

Now: In the 90s, Elizabeth tried to ditch her teen queen image by starring in the dark drama Leaving Las Vegas, for which she earned an Academy Award nomination.

She is now a series regular on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and has appeared in House At The End Of The Street and Chasing Mavericks.

Pat Morita as Mr Miyagi

Then: Pat shot to fame as Matsuo “Arnold” Takahashi on Happy Days in the 70s.

However, he will be forever known as Daniel son’s karate coach, Mr Miyagi.

Now: Sadly Pat passed away.

He died of kidney failure on November 24, 2005, at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 73.

William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence

Then: Karate Kid was William’s big break and his movie debut.

His character was Daniel’s nemesis and famous for his blond hair and bully attitude.

Now: William currently stars in Cobra Kai, alongside Ralph and reprises his role as Johnny.

In the show his character is now a down-and-out who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo.

Randee Heller as Lucille LaRusso

Then: Randee kicked off her career in the 70s when she starred in US sitcom Soap.

But she became internationally famous when she played Daniel’s doting mother Lucille in Karate Kid.

Now: These days she is more known for work on the small screen.

She has had parts in The Mentalist, Desperate Housewives and is known for playing Don Draper’s secretary, Miss Blankenship, on Mad Men.