Fresh-Faced Ralph Macchio Gets Advice From His Teenage Children On ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Ralph Macchio’s youthful appearance at the age of 49 has shocked viewers of “Dancing with the Stars,” but the actor threw the audience for another loop on Monday night, when he introduced his family, which includes two teenage children.

The original “Karate Kid,” who seems to have defied father time since playing Daniel Larusso in the 1984 classic, said that his big debut last week on “Dancing” put pressure on his shoulders, but weighing most heavily as he took on the jive on Monday evening was impressing his offspring.

“On the top of everything else, I’m the dad of two teenagers, so let’s face it — now, I have to make sure I don’t embarrass my kids,” he said on Monday’s show, referring to daughter Julia, who was born in 1992, and son Daniel, who was born in 1996.

The show cut to a clip package of daddy Ralph, rehearsing the jive with his professional dancing partner, Karina Smirnoff, and bringing in his family – including his gorgeous wife Phyllis, a nurse practitioner he met through a relative during his teens, and married in 1987, and their two children — for a little advice.

“I wanted to get some honest opinions on the jive, so I called on the family,” Ralph said in the clip.” “I know I can count on them to let me know if I, you know, suck.”

In walked Ralph’s family led by daughter Julia, who is in college, Phyllis, who is reportedly a year older than her husband, and Daniel, a high school student.

“Before it started, I was like, ‘Uhhh, I’m really gonna have to critique him on this one,’” Daniel said of his dad’s rehearsal moves. “Surprisingly, it was better than I expected.”

Julia, a beautiful brunette with her father’s eyes, also had some advice for her dear old dad.

“Don’t think too much, like obviously you have to get the steps in your head, but just have fun,” she said.

It didn’t appear Ralph’s youngsters were in the audience at Monday night’s “DWTS” taping, but he does plan on bringing them to the show if the voters and judges keep him around.

“It’s tough because… my daughter is in college, my son is in high school,” Ralph previously told Access Hollywood. “My kids will come on their Easter break if I’m still in it, so we have to stick around. My son said, ‘You’d better last ‘til when I’m off school.’”

And speaking of Ralph’s son, who has the same name as his father’s “Karate Kid” character, the youngster’s name was also inspired by a family connection.

“My wife’s cousin Daniel was her best friend growing up. And yeah, for me the name Daniel will always mean something special,” Ralph told People, two years ago.

The actor’s son even wore his father’s famous “Karate Kid” headband for Halloween once, but Ralph previously said he saved some other memories from the martial arts film for his daughter’s suitors.

“I have a daughter who is dating. Give me the crane kick,” he told the mag at the time. “This is the toughest job on the planet.”

Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More

‘90 Day Fiancé: Love In Paradise’ Returning With Dramatic & Wild New Season