Ralph Macchio Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame as HisCobra KaiCostars Praise His 'Old-Fashioned Class'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ralph Macchio.Photo:Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Ralph Macchiois being showered with love as he receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

William ZabkaandTamlyn Tomita, who also starred alongside Macchio inKarate Kidand laterCobra Kai,spoke at the ceremony, with Zabka calling Macchio “a gift” in his life.

“His passion and authenticity is contagious and challenging and everything you’d want and hope from a creative partner,” Zabka, 59, said. “As eloquent as he is an artist, it doesn’t stop on screen. He’s just as genuine and sincere and good as a father, as a husband and an all-around family man.”

“I love him like a brother,” he added.

Ralph Macchio at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Tomita, 58, also praised Macchio’s presence on and off camera, calling out his “integrity,” “tenacity” and “good old-fashioned class.”

“You have no idea how much I look up to you, how much I’ve loved you and learned from you, and that I will always be the woman that will fight for your honor,” she said tearfully. “You are so deserving of the star and may it shine forever.”

Macchio then took the mic to thank his mom and dad, his two children,Daniel and Julia, and hiswife of 37 years Phyllis Fierro. He got emotional as he went on to recognize his friends and fans who support him.

“I’ve just learned to be so grateful and appreciative at this age in my life, absorbing and learning and sharing the wisdom that I’ve gained from others, paying that legacy forward whether that be with the young cast ofCobra Kaior friends of my kids,” he said. “I get such joy out of sharing that wisdom and taking a piece of the legacy and passing that on, and I do not take it for granted that we get to spread a little bit of joy in what is sometimes not always a joyful world.”

Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio in ‘The Karate Kid.'.Columbia Pictures/Getty

Columbia Pictures/Getty

Born in Huntington, New York, Macchio appeared inEight Is Enoughand the 1983 coming-of-age dramaThe Outsidersbefore he landed the role of Daniel LaRusso in 1984’sThe Karate Kid.

The Karate Kid’srunaway success spawned four more films over the years, with a sixth movie —Karate Kid: Legends— starring Macchio andJackie Chanset for 2025. The franchise also inspired the sequel seriesCobra Kai,which debuted on YouTube in 2018 before migrating to Netflix.

The actor met future wife Fierro when he was just 15 at a cousin’s birthday party in his grandmother’s basement. The two tied the knot in August 1987 and share Julia, 31, and Daniel, 29.

Ralph Macchio, William Zabka and Mary Mouser in ‘Cobra Kai.'.Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix

Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix

“Part of the beauty of the success ofCobra Kaiis how much my kids are enjoying it. To bring something that was such a big part of my life 35 years ago, and see it be such a present part of their lives today, it’s really wonderful,” hetold PEOPLEin January 2021, adding, “I’m still a nerd dad!”

Although his children are all grown up now, Macchio also acknowledged that he’s constantly learning something new about parenting.

“You’re skinning your knees like it’s the second day of first grade,” he explained. “‘Failing is probably the wrong word, but you are learning all the time through the journey.”

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“Everything I do now, more often than 10, 15 years ago, I’m thinking of it for the sake of my children as they’re getting older,” he continued. “They’re adults, but they’re always your kids.”

source: people.com