Given how much time the "Happy Days" crew spent in Arnold's Diner, Pat Morita's episode-count might surprise even the show's biggest fans. So, too, might the fact that Morita's Arnold didn't actually make his first appearance on "Happy Days" until Season 3. That means the beloved actor was part of the "Happy Days" cast for eight full seasons. And that's precisely why it's such a surprise to learn that — according to IMDb — Pat Morita only appeared in 26 episodes of the show.
It's obviously a testament to Morita's skill and singular screen presence that his Arnold felt like such a major player in the series despite his relatively low episode count. Morita's impact was, of course, bolstered by the fact that few "Happy Days" supporting players — much less the regular cast — were gifted quite as many memorable scenes, riotous one-liners, or even quirky sideways glances. That's not because all of them weren't talented — they certainly were — but simply a testament to his incredible comedic skill.
Pat Morita's final appearance on "Happy Days" came during the Season 11 premiere, with the series finale coming 21 episodes later. The actor clearly made out okay sans his "Happy Days" gig, booking "The Karate Kid" as his first post-Arnold job. Surprisingly, Morita's comedic work on "Happy Days" almost kept him from landing the role of Mr. Miyagi. Thankfully he was able to change a few minds during the casting process, because one simply cannot imagine "The Karate Kid" without Pat Morita (and the same is certainly true for "Happy Days").
