Ralph Macchio Opens Up About Balancing Family and "Cobra Kai"

Ralph Macchio, known for his role as Daniel LaRusso in the "Karate Kid" franchise, is balancing his successful career with family life. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the "Cobra Kai" season 6 premiere, Macchio shared how he and his wife, Phyllis Fierro, navigate being apart during filming.

Macchio, 62, explained that technology has made staying connected easier. "Now with FaceTime and Zoom, it's helpful. Before then, there were phone calls," he said. "Now you can actually look at each other and have Sunday dinner on occasion."

However, he also acknowledged the challenges of returning home after a long filming period. "I got used to the single life," he joked. "You had to step back and say, 'Okay, I'm not the king of every room in this castle. I got to get back to the sharing.' "

Macchio and Fierro have been married since 1987, sharing two children: daughter Julia, 31, who appeared on "Cobra Kai" as Daniel's cousin, and son Daniel, 28. The family was present at the premiere, with Macchio expressing his happiness. "My family's here tonight, and it's so wonderful to have them," he shared.

The couple met when Macchio was just 15, and he credits Fierro for helping him maintain a healthy balance between his career and family life. "Without her and without the foundation and the family we established, 'one foot in, one foot out' would have been very, very difficult on my own," Macchio explained. "Because there would not be balance."

Macchio also shared that his son's name, Daniel, holds special meaning. "My wife's cousin Daniel was her best friend growing up," he said. "And yeah, for me the name Daniel will always mean something special." He considers his greatest accomplishment to be raising his family.