Ralph Macchio

RALPH MACCHI O

It’s been a wild, gritty, triumphant ride for The Karate Kid’s ageless hero—punching in with a new autobiography and season 5 of Net flix’s smash hit Cobra Kai.

Waxing On is a kick-ass title for a Macchio memoir. Did Cobra Kai light a literar y fire or had this book been percolating for a while? I’d been approached by publishers over the years, but the timing never felt right. Then a pandemic happens, Cobra Kai is between seasons and I’m sitting inside. It seemed like a good time to start jotting down thoughts.

Did it all come flooding back ? It’s been quite a trip for you and Daniel L aRusso since 1984’s The Karate Kid. It was cathartic putting into words this 40-year journey—which all started with a phone call that the director who made Rocky was doing another underdog movie about a kid getting picked on; then taking the train into New York City, meeting with [director] John Avildsen, landing the part, and all the magic and life lessons that ensued.

Can you hit us up with a few of those impor tant life lessons? Don’t assume you have it forever. Seize the moment. Youth is wasted on the young. That last one I mention at least once in the book.

There’s got ta be an upside to all that. Not every chapter is gonna be great, but you can still stick the landing. Good timing can happen at any point. After saying no to 30 years of Karate Kid pitches, along comes Cobra Kai and now I look smart.

Does that viral YouTube video Daniel is the REAL Bully, which pegs you as a “violent sociopath” and rival Johnny [ William Zabka] as the wronged hero, make you wanna hur t someone? At this point, if people are still debating all that stuff, it’s mainly just kinda awesome. For the record, everyone was rooting for Daniel LaRusso back in the ’80s. Is this the staying power of the franchise? Inviting fans to turn things on their ear ? That’s what the creators and writers of Cobra Kai do so beautifully. Shifting your allegiance from week to week. The show has evolved way beyond two dudes who can’t get past a high school rivalry.

What’s scarier, Broadway with De Niro or being on trial in rural Alabama with My Cousin Vinny’s Fred Gw ynne presiding? I was crapping a brick before that De Niro audition, but I’d have to go with Gwynne.

R E A L Q U I C K

When does looking young for your age start getting good?

Around 35. warned me it could happen. It wasn’t that bad. They’d look at me and go, “Ehh, you got one kick. Never mind.” Zabka got it worse, for sure.

Favorite blues guitarist? Too many. I’ve been listening to a lot of Joe Bonamassa.

Was making your own Funny or Die shor t—Wax On, Fuck Off—as therapeutic as it is funny ? It was a blast, and it still holds up. I think I’ll watch it again Do you still wash after we’re done here.

your own car?

Not in about 20 years. You and Phyllis [wife of 35 years] were intro’d Was the kick legal? by your grandmother at Yes! He was being age 1 5. True? Secret to attacked and just marital success? defending himself. Yeah, just have grandma set you up. It’s that easy. She had birthday parties for the grandkids in her Has “Daniel” ever been challenged on basement. Phyllis was a guest of one of my the street? cousins. Not exactly a setup. But that was An assistant director of the original film the time and place.

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