Ralph Macchio started his journey in the Karate Kid franchise playing teenage underdog Daniel Larusso, but both character and actor have come a long way since then. The original movie was released in 1984, and at the time, no one knew what it would grow into. The Karate Kid Part II and The Karate Kid Part III were released in the following years, and then, decades later, the spin-off series Cobra Kai brought this franchise back into the limelight. This means The Karate Kid has been a massive part of Macchio's life, and he's celebrated many birthdays on the sets of the films and Netflix series.

As a character, Daniel is the perfect underdog. Young and a little reckless, his heart of gold always winds up leading the way (with a bit of help from Mr. Miyagi). He proved himself a true hero and inspiration again and again in the Karate Kid movies,...