Ralph Macchio

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

Ralph Macchio
File:Ralph-George-Macchio.jpg
Born	Ralph George Macchio
Spouse(s)	Phyllis Fierro (1987–present), two children

Ralph George Macchio (born November 4, 1961) is an American actor of Italian ancestry. His most notable role was as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series.

Born in Huntington, Long Island, New York, Macchio attended Half Hollow Hills High School West.

Career

Early roles

Macchio first became a star when he appeared in television commercials for products such as Bubble Yum and Dr Pepper. His first major role was playing Jeremy in the television series Eight Is Enough. In 1983, he appeared alongside many young actors who had yet to become major stars, such as C. Thomas Howell, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, and Matt Dillon in The Outsiders.

The Karate Kid series

It was not until 1984 that Macchio, in his early 20s, became an international teen idol, after the release of the first Karate Kid movie in which he stars alongside Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. He continued this success with the film's sequels, Karate Kid Part II and III. With his boyish looks, 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 spoke out about the planned remake of the original Karate Kid, stating that he feels the film will be a flop and no one can replace Pat Morita.

Later career

In 1992, 31-year-old Macchio starred opposite Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei in the hit comedy, My Cousin Vinny, playing the part of a city boy "Billy Gambini," who was wrongly accused of murder while passing through a small Alabama town. It was the first significant adult role of his career. Also of note was his appearance in the 1986 film, Crossroads, portraying music student "Eugene Martone," who battles "Jack Butler" (played by guitarist Steve Vai), a protégé of the Devil.

Since the mid 1990s, Macchio's film appearances have been occasional cameo- or supporting roles, notably and recently A Good Night to Die and Beer League.

In 2005, Macchio played himself in the HBO series, Entourage.

On May 1, 2007, Macchio played himself in an episode of the Starz series, "Head Case," with Alexandra Wentworth and Liz Phair.

In 2008, he appeared in a VitaminWater commercial that featured NASCAR driver Carl Edwards. Macchio was depicted as Edwards' "spiritual advisor," and dressed in his "Karate Kid" garb.

In October 2008, he appeared in two episodes of the ABC Network television series, "Ugly Betty," as local politician, "Archie Rodriguez."

Macchio is ranked #80 on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars.

Personal life

On April 5, 1987, Macchio married Phyllis Fierro, with whom he has a daughter (Julia, born 1992) and a son (Daniel, born 1996). Macchio has one brother, Steven. His parents, Ralph and Rosalie Macchio, own the Wild West Ranch and Western Town, in Lake George, New York.

Filmography

Year	Movie	Role	Other notes
1980	Up the Academy	Chooch Bambalazi
1980	Eight Is Enough	Jeremy Andretti	TV series
1982	Dangerous Company	Denny Brody	Television movie
1982	High Powder	Eddie	Television movie
1983	The Outsiders	Johnny Cade
1984	The Karate Kid	Daniel LaRusso
1984	Teachers	Eddie Pilikian
1984	The Three Wishes of Billy Grier	Billy Grier	Television movie
1986	Crossroads	Eugene Martone
1986	The Karate Kid, Part II	Daniel LaRusso
1988	Distant Thunder	Jack Lambert
1989	The Karate Kid, Part III	Daniel LaRusso	Razzie nomination
1991	Too Much Sun	Frank Jr.
1991	The Last P.O.W.? The Bobby Garwood Story	Robert Garwood
1992	My Cousin Vinny	Billy Gambini
1993	Naked in New York	Chris
1998	The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue video,	Tim	Voice
1998	Dizzyland
1999	The Other Side (The Outer Limits)	Dr. Eberhardt	TV series episode
2000	Can't Be Heaven	Hubbie Darling
2000	The Office Party	Sean
2001	Popcorn Shrimp	Cop
2003	A Good Night to Die	Donnie
2005	Entourage	Himself	Episode series
2006	Beer League	Maz
2007	Head Case	Himself	Starz series, episode five
2008	Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead	Bobby Bianchi

Pop culture

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 The Wussy Boy Manifesto. Nerdcore artist MC Frontalot mentions him in his song "Braggadocio."

Macchio is featured in a brief cameo at the end of the No More Kings video for Sweep the Leg.

Jimmy Urine of the band Mindless Self Indulgence refers to himself as Ralph Macchio in their DVD Our Pain, Your Gain during the song "Stupid MF."

In the hit comedy television series Friends episode titled The One with Phoebe's Wedding, Italian character Joey Tribbiani mentions that he lost out on a part in a movie: "How could I not get that part? Stupid Ralph Macchio."

External links

• Ralph Macchio Homepage