Ralph Macchio and Phyllis Fierro: The secret love story behind 'Cobra Kai' star's amazing 33-year marriage
‘Cobra Kai’, the American martial arts comedy-drama series based on ‘The Karate Kid’ film series, is arriving on Netflix earlier than expected. The third season of the show will premiere globally on January 1, 2021. The show takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 "All Valley Karate Tournament", where a now-successful Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) struggles to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr Miyagi and must face his previous adversary, down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo.
Season 3 of ‘Cobra Kai’ will find everyone reeling in the aftermath of the violent high school brawl between their dojos, which left Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) in a precarious condition. While Daniel searches for answers in his past and Johnny seeks redemption, Kreese (Martin Kove) further manipulates his vulnerable students with his own vision of dominance. The soul of the Valley will be at stake, and the fate of every student and sensei will hang in the balance.
Zabka and Macchio, of course, play the main characters in the story, as they have been playing since ‘The Karate Kid’ days. Macchio has had an interesting life. Part Italian and part Greek, he was part of the entertainment business from a very young age. He got married to Phyllis Fierro on April 5, 1987. The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 2012 by renewing their wedding vows. In an interview with a popular daily, Macchio had said that he wanted to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary in a grand manner to let others know that it is indeed possible to make a Hollywood marriage work. He also said that his wife deserved such a celebration for having gone through so many things along with him.
He said, before his anniversary, "we're talking about renewing our vows. That would be really nice. We have a lot to celebrate; we've been through so much. We've earned it." Macchio insisted that the couple's secret was simple: "Commitment... Believing that you're meant to be together and knowing at the end of the day that this is the person I should be with."
So, let’s take a peek into this successful marriage. Macchio was introduced to Fierro by his grandmother when he was 15. She was 16 at the time, and the two quickly became the best of friends. While Macchio was making a name for himself in films, Fierro had chosen a career in the field of medicine. After finishing her advanced degree, she began filling in as a medical attendant at an emergency clinic.
The two got married 11 years after being introduced to each other. It is uncertain when the two began dating but they were effectively together for years before they entered into wedlock. Even as Macchio became a global celebrity with the success of ‘The Karate Kid’, Fierro has successfully kept herself away from the limelight. Ever since her wedding with the famous Hollywood actor, she has maintained a low profile. She is not active on social media so we know very little about her interests.
The two gave birth to two children — Julia Macchio (born in 1992) and Daniel Macchio (born in 1996). Both children have followed in their father’s footsteps to establish themselves in the field of entertainment. Julia has appeared in several films, such as ‘Girl Most Likely’, ‘Across Grace Alley’, and ‘Stella’s Last Weekend’.
Did you know Julia is also a trained dancer — just like her father? She has been dancing since the age of five and has mastery over different styles of dances, including jazz, tap, ballet, and hip hop. Meanwhile, Daniel is an actor and a composer, known for working in films such as ‘The Haley Project’, ‘That Was Then’, and ‘The Wrecks’.
The third season of the show will premiere globally on January 1, 2021, a week earlier than the previously announced January 8, 2021. One can watch season 3 of ‘Cobra Kai’ only on Netflix.