Ralph Macchio Recalls The Moment He And William Zabka Went From Enemies To Friends On ‘The View’: “That Was The First Time We Were On The Same Side Of The Mat”

Pat Morita‘s Mr. Miyagi will always hold a special place in Ralph Macchio‘s heart. The Karate Kid star appeared on this morning’s episode of The View, where he reflected on reuniting with William Zabka at Morita’s memorial service.

Macchio and Zabka played enemies in the original Karate Kid movie in 1984 — and according to the former, their off-screen relationship was much like their on-screen one.

“When I was done with the original Karate Kid film, I looked at William Zabka and said, ‘Well, thank God I never have to see that guy again,'” Macchio told The View.

(Editor’s Note: The View is currently on hiatus; contrary to what you may have heard, The View was not canceled today. This article was originally published on July 24, 2024 when this episode first aired. The View will return with new episodes in September.)

Two decades went by before they reunited at Morita’s memorial service in 2005.

“It was at Pat Morita’s memorial where I saw Billy — it was in Vegas and I had to speak that day. It was a tough day,” Macchio recalled. “I saw Billy there at the memorial service and I hadn’t seen him for 20 years.”

He continued, “I always say that was the first time we were on the same side of the mat. And from that point forward, this has kind of found itself and here we are.”

The two actors came together again in 2018 to film the hit Karate Kid spinoff Cobra Kai, which is currently in its sixth and final season.

“Now, it’s like we’re very close friends as husbands, fathers, actors and just grown men. [We] just have forged such a great relationship,” Macchio said of his co-star. “And yet we’re so different. It’s a little bit of art imitating life, back and forth. We have that but there’s such a mutual respect.”

Macchio also praised Morita’s role in making the franchise a success, telling the panel, “I won’t let go of Miyagi, I won’t let go of Pat Morita. That’s the secret sauce. That’s the soulful magic that none of this is going on without that performance and without that character.”

While Cobra Kai may be coming to an end, Macchio explained that it’s “not goodbye,” but rather “I’ll see you next time.”

“This is, after all, the Karate Kid universe that somehow has been sprinkled with this fairy dust and light from above,” he said. “But the fans will never let it go away. So I kind of feel it’s the right time to land it in this Cobra Kai proper, if you will.”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.