Pat Morita was an American actor and comedian whose career in film and television included several notable voice acting roles. Born in California in 1932, he began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian before gaining fame for his on-screen performances, most famously as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His voice acting work, while not his primary occupation, brought his distinctive presence to animated projects, particularly for Disney.

Morita's most prominent voice role was that of the Emperor of China in Disney's animated feature film Mulan, released in 1998. He reprised this role for the direct-to-video sequel, Mulan II, in 2004. He also provided the voice for the character Master Udon in an episode of the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, titled Karate Island, which aired in 2006 following his death and was dedicated to his memory. Additionally, he voiced a version of his famous Mr. Miyagi character for the 1989-1990 animated series The Karate Kid, serving as the narrator.

According to his filmography, Morita also contributed his voice to the 1992 anime series Sangokushi, specifically the first episode Eiyū-tachi no Yoake, in the role of the Narrator. This credit places him within the realm of Japanese animation, expanding his voice acting legacy beyond American productions. His other voice work includes the video game Kingdom Hearts II.

Throughout his career, Morita was recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry. In 1994, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His passing in 2005 marked the end of a career that spanned several decades and left a lasting impact through both his live-action and voice-performed characters.