Ralph Macchio, known to generations of filmgoers as "The Karate Kid," on Monday was revealed as the celebrity grand marshal of the First Ever 16th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The official announcement came Monday during a Pop Up Pub Pop Up Party on the Hot Springs Convention Center lawn, which also marked the halfway point between the 2018 parade and the 2019 edition.
Macchio recently reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso in the in the series “Cobra Kai” for Sony Pictures Television and YouTube Red.
“Ralph Macchio remains a huge star in Hollywood, with his current ‘Cobra Kai’ TV series on Sony Pictures Television, and he will delight fans from three generations as our celebrity grand marshal,” Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said in a news release on Monday.
"He continues our unbroken string of popular grand marshals as our little parade continues to generate interest in Hot Springs as a place where exciting things are always happening.”
Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite DJ and “So You Think You Can Dance” star, was announced in August as the 2019 parade’s official starter.
Macchio's film credits include “Johnny” in Frances Ford Coppola’s, “The Outsiders,” “My Cousin Vinny,” co-starring along with Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, and “The Karate Kid” and its successors, “The Karate Kid Part II” and “The Karate Kid Part III.”
The 10-part first season of "Cobra Kai" was released on YouTube Red in May, and the series was recently renewed for a second season slated for release in 2019.
He also plays Officer Haddix in HBO’s hit series, “The Deuce,” which returns to HBO this month, the release said.