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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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WAXING ON

Ralph Macchio

The Karate Kid and Me

A fun-filled memoir by The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai actor that's equal parts nostalgia and contemporary relevance, based on both the classic movies and his current show, which is Netflix's #1 hit and gaining legions of new fans from every generation.
Since The Karate Kid first crane-kicked its way into the pop culture stratosphere in June of 1984, there hasn't been a week Ralph Macchio hasn't heard friendly shouts of "Wax On, Wax Off" or "Sweep the Leg!" Now, with Macchio reprising his role as Daniel LaRusso in the #1 ranked Netflix show, Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio is finally ready to look back at the movie that came to define him and give the fans something they've long craved.

The book will be Ralph Macchio's joyful and celebratory reflection on the legacy of The Karate Kid in film, pop culture, and his own life. It will be a comprehensive look at a film that shaped him as much as it influenced the world. Macchio will share the untold story behind his starring role - the innocence of the early days, the audition process, and the filmmaking experience itself - as well as take readers through the birth of some of the film's most iconic moments.

Overall, this is a nostalgic story that will bring readers back to the day they first met Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, and Mr. Miyagi for the first time, but also provides a fascinating lens into how our pasts shape all of us, and how the past can come back to enrich one's life in powerful, surprising, and wonderful ways.

With an extensive list of film acting credits, Ralph Macchio is best known for his celebrated performance as Johnn in Frances Ford Coppola's The Outsiders; the hit film My Cousin Vinny, costarring with Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei; and most notably for the title roles in the popular classic, The Karate Kid and its successors, The Karate Kid II and The Karate Kid III. Expanding further on The Karate Kid Universe, Ralph continues to reprise his iconic role of Daniel LaRusso in the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai. He lives on Long Island with his family.
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Book

Published 2022-10-18 by Dutton

Comments

A breezy read that disproves the clanky, "Nice guys finish last,' cliche, but re-defines it as, 'Nice guys LAST.' This memoir will put you in the BEST mood, I promise.

[Macchio's] down-to-earth writing style suits the behind-the-scenes tales and his heartwarming meetings with fans well... Macchio's sweet, nostalgic memoir is as family-friendly and instructive as its inspiration.

I love my fellow "Greaser', Ralph. But if I'm being completely honest, I've never gotten over the existential pain of The Karate Kid's ongoing success and relevance. What does that movie have that Youngblood doesn't?! Well, after reading Ralph's fun and insightful recounting, I now totally get it. Long live The Karate Kid!

People posted their exclusive cover reveal for WAXING ON by Ralph Macchio Read more...

Macchio, star of 1984's The Karate Kid, produces another feel-good hit with this breezy reflection on his experience making the movie... Macchio writes, 'The film is a prime example of when Hollywood gets it all right. It teaches and inspires through pure entertainment.' Fans will find this just as entertaining. Read more...

Waxing On is a refreshing look into a film that touched our hearts and an era that defined so many of us. Through honest and witty reflection, the reader is plunged back into the unforgettable world of The Karate Kid, and the magic that happens when Hollywood is on point. Macchio shares his unique perspective with humor and humility as well as with surprising relatability. I was a fan before, but now I feel like a friend.