What You Don't Know About Ralph Macchio's Marriage

Famous for his roles in movies such as The Karate Kid and My Cousin Vinny, Ralph Macchio certainly has a long filmography that he can be proud of. But one of his secrets to success comes from his off-screen relationship with his wife of 33 years, Phylis Fierro.

Recently, People reported that Macchio credits his balance with his wife for his successful career and home life. Star of the Netflix series Cobra Kai, Macchio told the outlet how important his wife is in his efforts to be a part of Hollywood, but not of it. "Without her and without the foundation and the family we established, 'one foot in [Hollywood], one foot out' would have been very, very difficult on my own," he told the outlet.

The two met at a cousin's birthday party when Macchio was just 15, well before he rose to fame with The Karate Kid at age 22. They married in 1987 and have been thick as thieves ever since. 

After their nuptials, Macchio starred in various movies and TV shows with his wife by his side. Recently, Cobra Kai has gotten renewed for a fourth season, Country Living notes, and his partnership with Fierro proves an incredible support system on which they can both build their careers. The couple shares two children — Julia, 28, and Daniel, 24.

Beyond her work as a support system to her husband and mother two their two children, Fierro also holds another title: nurse practitioner, Country Living reports. As for their kids, both of their children work in similar arenas as their father. Daughter Julia is an actress and a dancer, while Daniel is a music composer and actor as well. The outlet reports that Julia starred in Girl Most Likely and Stella's Last Weekend while her brother played in From the Heart of the Crowd.

Daniel gets his name from the movie that shot his father to stardom — The Karate Kid, PopSugar reports. As for his decision to name his son the name of his character, Macchio told The Guardian, "There was a chunk of time when my son was like: 'Did you have to?' But now he's proud of it. Unlike Ralph, Daniel is a classic, it never goes out of style, you know?"

The secret to a 33-year marriage and a happy family for the Macchios? "Commitment," the actor told People. "It's the belief through the easy times, through the tough times, whatever we encounter, that we are meant to be together," he continued. From The Karate Kid to Cobra Kai, it appears that Macchio's wife Phyllis has played a key role behind the scenes for decades.