The American actor Ralph Machhio Jr. he’s best known for his portrayal of the character Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid franchise and the very recent sequel series. Although he also worked in a number of series in recurring roles and lots of films as the main character.
This veteran actor has been active as an actor since the year 1979. The actor is now sixty years old and is currently playing in the series ‘Cobra Kai’.
The following is the list of television series and films in which Ralph Macchio has been prominently cast:
The Outsiders (1983)-
Francis Ford Coppola directed this coming of age film which is based on the novel of the same name by SE Hinton. The plot of the film revolves around a number of working class teenagers of the 50’s and 60’s, known as the Greasers, which include the Curtis brothers, Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade, the latter played by Ralph Macchio. The film was released on March 25, 1983, in the United States.
The Karate Kid (part I: 1984, II: 1986, III: 1989)-
The film series for which Ralph Macchio is most recognized is ‘The Karate Kid franchise. The three films of the series gave birth to the renowned characters of the protagonist Daniel LaRusso and the antagonist Johnny Lawrence, two pro Karate players.
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier (1984)-
This is a television movie that revolves around a young man who suffers from a disease that will cause him to die of old age very early. Before he dies he must fulfill his goals which include finding his father, playing in a jazz band, and making love to a lady for the first time.
Ralph Macchio plays the titular teenager Billy Grier in the film. It was released on November 1, 1984, on ABC.
Crossroads (1986)-
This musical film is inspired by the legend of blues musician Robert Johnson. The story centers around a young man named Eugene Martone who studies classical guitar and is obsessed with blues music.
He is influenced by the creativity of Robert Johnson and begins extensive research on him. In the film Macchio portrays seventeen-year-old Eugene Martone. The film was released on March 14, 1986, in the United States.
Distant Thunder (1988)-
Rick Rosenthal directed this film that revolves around a father and his estranged son who together with his mother once the father abandoned to live in a remote desert far from civilization. But ten years later when the father wants to return to civilization, he has to face his now teenage son.
With John Lithgow playing the father Mark Lambert in the film, Ralph Macchio starred as the son Jack Lambert. It was released on November 11, 1988, in the United States.
Cousins Vinny (1992)-
Jonathan Lynn’s comedy film ‘My Cousin Vinny’ deals with an inexperienced lawyer who fights his first trial by defending Billy, his cousin, and Billy’s friend Stan as they’re accused who killed a convenience store owner.
Joe Pesci plays the titular Vinny in the film with Macchio playing Bill Gambini, her cousin. The film was released on March 13, 1992, in the United States.
Naked in New York (1993) –
Daniel Algrant directed this American rom-com film that revolves around the life and journey of Jake, a theater lover who writes plays and struggles to be a successful playwright.
American actor-director Eric Stoltz plays the role of Jake Briggs in the film. Macchio plays his bisexual best friend Chris. The film was released in the United States on April 13, 1994.
Can’t Be Heaven (1999)-
This is a comedy-drama film that’s inspired by Robert Stevenson’s 1968 fantasy comedy film ‘Blackbeard’s Ghost.’ The film revolves around the effort of a young student named Danny to get the girl he loves with the help of a ghost he meets in a cemetery.
Although the ghost’s advice virtually at all times backfires, Danny ends up with the girl at the school dance and also helps the ghost reconnect with his former lover. The ghost, whose name is Hubbie, is played by Macchio in the film. It was released on December 5, 1999, in the United States.
Hitchcock (2012)-
Sacha Gervasi directed the romantic biographical film based on Stephen Rebello’s non-fiction book entitled ‘Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho.
The story of the film delves deeper into the relationship of legendary filmmaker Hitchcock with his wife Alma Reville while he was making the 1959 film ‘Psycho’.
In the film, Macchio played the role of screenwriter Joseph Stefano who adapted the novel of the same name by Robert Bloch as the screenplay of the film. It was released on November 23, 2012, in the United States.
Cobra Kai-
Number of Seasons: 5
A sequel to the films ‘The Karate Kid’, this sequel is a martial arts comedy series that tells the events of thirty-four years after Johnny Lawrence’s defeat of Daniel LaRusso from the standpoint of Lawrence.
Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their respective roles in the film series. It was released on May 2, 2018.
