Long Island, New York native Ralph Macchio got his big break in Hollywood when he landed the role of Johnny in the 1983 movie The Outsiders based on the book of the same title. Francis Ford Coppola directed Macchio and his co-stars Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez, and Rob Lowe.
But Macchio is best known for his role as Daniel in The Karate Kid movie franchise and in the current spinoff TV series Cobra Kai.
Macchio, 60, is now promoting his memoir, cleverly titled Waxing On. On TV talk shows including Good Morning America (see below), Macchio is telling fun stories about his days on The Karate Kid set and how his real-life family has reacted to his fame over the years.
Three notable TV stars who also wrote bestselling memoirs provided blurbs for Waxing On including Patton Oswald, Brooke Shields, and Macchio’s former Outsiders greaser co-star Rob Lowe.
Lowe writes: “…But if I’m being completely honest, I’ve never gotten over the existential pain of The Karate Kid’s ongoing success and relevance. What does that movie have that Youngblood doesn’t?! Well, after reading Ralph’s fun and insightful recounting, I now totally get it. Long live The Karate Kid!”
Lowe and Swayze teamed up after The Outsiders to star in the 1986 teen drama Youngblood, which wasn’t as successful at the box office as The Outsiders.
