Waxing On

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.

About the Author

With an extensive list of film acting credits, Ralph Macchio is best known for his celebrated performance as "Johnny" 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.