When the appeal for Hong Kong Martial Arts films in Hollywood was on the rise, there were many successful and iconic attempts to satiate the demand of the audience. But among them, the impact that Ralph Macchio had with the original The Karate Kid was something that would remain with the public for generations to come.
To this day, the sentiments that were associated with the film have not died down, which means the star is still the talk of the town when it comes to good old times of childhood memories and cinema. But despite the fame and love from the fans of the film series, the star revealed that he might’ve wound up in a very dark place that had ended the careers of many in the past.
Ralph Macchio Almost Lost It When He Lost Roles After The Karate Kid
The thing about the Hollywood industry is that the success that a star may find himself in might’ve been the fruit of their labor or just luck, but what truly tests their mettle is their ability to keep that fame in the long run, something that many stars fail to do with their careers. Ralph Macchio, the face of the iconic The Karate Kid series has survived through the thick and thin of the industry all these years, and is now continuing that legacy with the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai. But even he admits that it hasn’t been an easy ride for him.
In a past interview with The Guardian, The Outsiders star talked about how he had been riding the high tide for the years he portrayed Daniel LaRusso in the series, but after his tenure was over, he found himself in a sticky situation. He revealed that he had auditioned for FRIENDS as well as ER back in the day, but wasn’t selected for either of them at the end, something that took a toll on him. He also said that success was a seductive thing, something that he was chasing at that point in his life which almost pushed him off the deep end. He said:
“Maybe I did undercut myself. I’m thinking this through now – this is a new thought in my mind. What happens is, it’s very hard not to become desperate when you want to find work that isn’t there. There was a section of time when that was happening to me. That’s often when actors go off the deep end or down a dark path. Because it’s such a seductive thing, success.”
Thankfully, the star found his footing in the industry at the right time, and now, he’s reliving the success that he once experienced.
You may also like: “No smirk, just a simple smile”: Ralph Macchio Revealed How Pat Morita’s Funeral Led to Cobra Kai When He Met His Karate Kid Co-Star William Zabka
What Was The Karate Kid About?
Known as the most iconic and exemplary performance by Macchio in his entire career, The Karate Kid tells the tale of a young boy named Daniel LaRusso who has just moved to Southern California and finds himself as the target of a group of bullies who are students of karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. He mercilessly gets beaten up by the bullies since he cannot fight back himself.
Then one day, a handy repairman Mr. Miyagi becomes Daniel’s friend, who is later revealed to be a master of karate himself This leads Daniel to seek out his guidance to learn the martial arts himself and fight back against his tormentors.
You may also like: “Things weren’t handled right”: Ralph Macchio Claims Cobra Kai Redeemed One Karate Kid Experience He Still Regrets
The Karate Kid, streaming on Netflix.
Source: The Guardian
