‘Karate Kid’ Actor Robert Garrison Dies at 59, Reports Say

‘Karate Kid’ Actor Robert Garrison Dies at 59, Reports Say
Rob Garrison (L) and William Zabka in 'Cobra Kai'. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment
Jack Phillips
Updated:

Robert Garrison, who played Tommy in “The Karate Kid” and its sequel, has died at age 59, according to reports.

Garrison’s family told TMZ on Sept. 27 that he died at a hospital in West Virginia. His sister said that he had been in the hospital for the past month, suffering from kidney and liver problems, and she added that his organs shut down.

His cause of death was not revealed.

Garrison’s last tweet came on April 25, thanking people for their comments on his appearance in the internet series “Cobra Kai.”

His family didn’t provide any more details about his illness or death, saying that funeral arrangements are pending.

Garrison had small roles in TV shows “MacGyver,” “Columbo,” and “Coach,” according to his IMDB page. He would later go on to play Tommy in the “Cobrai Kai” series on YouTube, which aired this year.

“The Karate Kid” was among the most popular films of the 1980s, starring Ralph Macchio as protagonist Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as his teacher, Mr. Miyagi. Morita passed away in 2005 at age 73.

TMZ reported that Garrison is survived by his brother.

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Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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