Meet Ralph Macchio's two children - including very famous actress daughter starring in a Netflix hit

Julia Macchio is the oldest child and only daughter of actor Ralph, shared with his wife of almost 40 years, Phyllis. Born on 20 May 1992, Julia has followed her father to a life of fame on the big screen.

She’s best known for projects like Girl Most Likely (2012), Kirsten Wiig’s dark comedy about a playwright who didn’t deliver on her potential, and City on a Hill (2019), a crime thriller starring Kevin Bacon.

As well as her own projects, Julia has worked opposite her father on the successful Karate Kid spin-off Cobra Kai. The actor reprises his ‘80s role as Daniel LaRusso while daughter Julia stepped into character as Vanessa LaRusso.

Vanessa plays a small but crucial role in Season 4, helping her cousin Daniel and his wife Amanda understand their son Anthony better through her psychological insights. 

While daughter Julia has pursued a career on-screen, Ralph’s son Daniel prefers to keep his career more low key. Daniel briefly tried his hand at acting with roles through the early 2010s and worked on several projects as a composer.

While he hasn’t been active in showbiz since 2014, Daniel has found a flourishing career in the sports business, working as a business intelligence and analytics manager for the New York Islanders, according to his LinkedIn. 

Plenty of ‘80s teens were crushing on the Karate Kid himself, but only one woman has won his heart and enjoyed an almost 40-year love story with the actor. Ralph met Phyllis Fierro when he was just 15-years-old, and the couple tied the knot in 1987.

The actor hasn’t been shy about showing his affection for his wife, who works in healthcare as a nurse practitioner. When he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Ralph was quick to give thanks for their partnership, saying: "None of this is happening without you. Thank you for choosing me. Life is all the richer to walk in lockstep with you."

There was no time to take a pause in the ‘80s as Ralph was busy starring in the Karate Kid franchise, stepping into the role of Daniel LaRusso for the first time in 1984, again in the 1986 sequel and for a third time in 1989.

But his ‘80s stardom extended beyond “Wax on, wax off,” with the star also appearing in Francis Ford Coppola classic The Outsiders (1983) and musical mystery Crossroads (1986). 

Ralph Macchio’s ‘80s stardom proved lasting as the subsequent decades brought further fame. In 1992, he joined Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. Ralph stars as Billy, Vinny’s cousin who stands accused of murdering a shop worker. 

He’s since appeared in Ugly Betty, Hitchcock, Kevin Can Wait and The Deuce. Ralph has also returned to the Karate Kid franchise several times, starring in Cobra Kai and sequel film Karate Kid: Legends.

As well as making his return to The Karate Kid for a new generation, Ralph recently starred in 2026 crime thriller The Girl in the River as a medical examiner who helps a forensic expert and investigator as they look into the murder of a teenage girl who’s been found in the Mississippi River.

Per his IMDb, Ralph is set to appear in sports romance Love on the Hill. The actor is cast as Angelo who reportedly introduces the two leads, a chef-turned-influencer who’s returned to her hometown and a demoted minor league baseball player.