‘Karate Kid’ Star Ralph Macchio on the Key to a Lasting Marriage: ‘Stay Out of Hollywood’

U.S. actor Ralph Macchio (R) and his wife Phyllis Fierro pose during the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Macchio with a star, in Hollywood, Calif., on Nov. 20, 2024. Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images

Ralph Macchio, best known for his role as Daniel LaRusso in the “Karate Kid” franchise, is spilling his secrets to a long-lasting marriage this Valentine’s Day.

In an interview with Fox News Digital published Feb. 14, the 63-year-old said he and his wife of nearly 40 years owe their success to “staying out of Hollywood” to the best of their ability.

“I’ve always kept one foot in and one foot out,” said Macchio during the red carpet finale premiere of “Cobra Kai.”

In the Netflix series, which premiered in 2018, Macchio reprised his role from the original “Karate Kid” film and its two sequels.

Despite appearing in nearly 60 credits over his 45-year career, Macchio prides himself on family and credits his wife, Phyllis Fierro, for keeping him and their two children “grounded” while elevating them simultaneously.

With celebrity divorces constantly making headlines, successful Hollywood marriages seem hard to come by.

Actor Jeff Bridges and his wife Susan Geston are going on 50 years of marriage, and country star Dolly Parton and her husband Carl Dean are nearing 60 years. All credit strong communication throughout stardom and keeping personal matters private.

Macchio and Fierro married in 1987. They welcomed daughter Julia in 1992 and son Daniel in 1995.

Julia eventually followed in her father’s acting footsteps, making cameos in two seasons of “Cobra Kai,” which is on its sixth and final season and was divided into three parts on Netflix.

While the series itself comes to a close on the streaming service, it isn’t the end for the franchise as Sony Pictures is set to release “Karate Kid: Legends” in May with a focus on a new martial arts prodigy.

Last year, “Karate Kid” celebrated its 40th anniversary since it premiered in 1984 and quickly became a franchise sensation, surpassing the expectations of Macchio and his co-stars.

“I would love to say I knew it all along. I didn’t know this much. I knew that Pat Morita and myself had something special there, and William Zabka, Elisabeth Shue. … The cast felt strong,” he told Fox.

Ralph Macchio and wife Phyllis Fierro arrive at the world premiere of "Artie Lange's Beer League" at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on Sept. 13, 2006. Brad Barket/Getty Images

The film follows the story of a new kid in town, LaRusso, who is faced with a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. LaRusso is taken under the wing of martial arts master Mr. Miyagi, who teaches him how to defend himself.

“No one could predict the level of success of that film, let alone this,” said Macchio of the franchise’s continued success. “This is beyond. But that’s because we care so much. The writers give so much to the young cast, as well as the legacy cast, if you will.”