Tia Morita is known primarily as the daughter of actor Pat Morita and his second wife, Yukiye Kitahara. She pursued a career outside of Hollywood and kept her life private and professional in the GIS sector.
Most people from the 90s still remember the portrayal of Mr. Miyagi by Pat Morita that left an indelible mark on the film history of the US. Pat earned a huge fame and respect in the classical era of the Hollywood industry.
However, due to all the existing successful opportunities, Tia Morita chose a path that was defined not by scripts or cameras, but by maps, data, and public service. As she is not anywhere in the mainstream media, she is still a point of interest for many people.
In this article, I have honored the interest of people in knowing Tia Morita and listed some of the details about her net worth, bio, and family.
Tia Morita Early Life and Career
Tia Morita was born in California in 1975, reportedly the middle daughter of the famous Japanese-American actor Pat Morita.
She earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Washington and an M.S. in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the University of Redlands.
According to Tia Morita’s LinkedIn, she has over 17 years of experience in GIS and has served as a GIS Specialist for the Los Angeles County Public Works department.
Tia also worked in the private sector (e.g., Booz Allen Hamilton) and volunteered on international mapping missions. For instance, GISCorps notes she helped provide emergency-preparedness mapping data in the Caribbean as part of a 2011 disaster-response project.
Bio Data of Tia Morita
- Full Name: Tia Morita
- Known For: Daughter of actor Pat Morita
- Date of Birth: 1975
- Place of Birth: California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Education: M.S. in Geographic Information Systems
- Profession: GIS Specialist
- Net Worth (Est.): $700K but unverified
- Father: Noriyuki “Pat” Morita (actor, comedian, best known as Mr. Miyagi)
- Mother: Yukiye Kitahara (community organizer, second wife of Pat Morita)
- Siblings: Aly Morita (sister), Erin Morita (half-sister from Pat’s first marriage)
- Marital Status: Not publicly known
- Children: Not publicly known
- Public Presence: Private individual, not active in Hollywood or media
Parents of Tia Morita
Pat Morita (Father)
Noriyuki “Pat” Morita (1932–2005) was a Japanese-American actor and comedian best known for playing Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid film series.
He first gained fame on television (for example, as Arnold Takahashi on Happy Days from 1975 to 83). Then, achieved international stardom in 1984 as Mr. Miyagi, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
He also received two Golden Globe nominations and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. Over his long career, Morita appeared in many TV shows and films (including roles on MASH*, Sanford and Son, and voice work in Disney’s Mulan).
Pat Morita was married three times.
- His first wife was Kathleen Yamachi, with whom he had a daughter, Erin Morita (born 1954).
- His second wife was Yukiye (“Yuki”) Kitahara (married 1970-1989), with whom he had two daughters: Aly Morita and Tia Morita.
- His third wife, Evelyn Guerrero, was married to Pat from 1994 until his death in 2005; they had no children together.)
Yukiye Kitahara (Mother)
Yukiye “Yuki” Kitahara was Pat Morita’s second wife (married 1970-1989) and Tia’s mother. According to a 1986 People magazine profile, Yukiye was a community organizer in Los Angeles (notably involved in Little Tokyo’s redevelopment) when she wed Pat.
Very little else is publicly documented about her background. Entertainment media note that “little is known about Kitahara” beyond these facts. Her only known media appearance is a 1975 guest spot on the TV game show Tattletales.
Siblings of Tia Morita
- Erin Morita (b. 1954): Erin is Pat Morita’s eldest daughter, born during his first marriage to Kathleen Yamachi.
- Aly Morita: Tia’s older sister, Aly, is also Pat’s daughter by Yukiye. Aly has been active as a writer and public commentator.
Tia Morita and Public Profile
Tia Morita has generally remained out of the public spotlight. Unlike her father’s career in entertainment, she has forged a professional life in GIS and has given no public interviews about her family.
She is always identified in the media as Pat Morita’s daughter, but she herself has no recorded statements in the news or interviews.
In practice, mentions of Tia come indirectly, for example, in reports by her sister Aly. Notably, in 2021, it was reported that none of Morita’s daughters (including Tia) chose to participate in the documentary More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story.
Aly Morita explained on their behalf that “my sisters and I are aware of [the documentary]…but we have declined to become involved,” expressing a desire to protect their father’s legacy.
Other than such family comments, Tia Morita’s presence in public records is limited to basic biographical or career information; she appears to live a private life outside show business.
Net Worth of Tia Morita
Tia Morita’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Unlike her late father, actor Pat Morita, who had an estimated net worth of $2.5 million at the time of his death in 2005, Tia Morita has chosen a private and professional path outside of the entertainment industry.
As a senior GIS professional in Los Angeles, her income would correspond roughly to market rates. For example, job sites report the average GIS specialist salary in Los Angeles is on the order of $90-95K per year.
What I Conclude about Tia Morita
Tia Morita’s life develops a new paradigm of dignity, independence, and quiet strength. Instead of leaning on her father’s fame, which is mostly happening in Hollywood, she pursued her own path – one built on education, professional expertise, and service to others.
The story of Tia Morita symbolizes how legacy does not always mean following in the same footsteps but rather honoring family values by contributing in meaningful, though less public, ways.
To me, Tia expresses the idea that true success is not measured by fame, but by the impact and authenticity of one’s chosen journey.
People Also Ask
Tia Morita’s age is estimated about more than 50 years.
There is no verified Instagram or other public social media account linked to Tia Morita.
She is a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) specialist with over 16 years of experience in both public and private sectors.
Yes, she has two sisters: Erin Morita (from Pat’s first marriage) and Aly Morita (her older sister by Yukiye).
No, she and her sisters chose not to participate, preferring to keep their father’s story private.
