Ralph Macchio, best known for his iconic role in The Karate Kid and its sequel series Cobra Kai, has revealed the key to his 38-year marriage to wife Phyllis Fierro: staying “out of Hollywood.”

During the Cobra Kai season six-part three red-carpet premiere event, Macchio, 63, shared with Fox News Digital that keeping a balance between his Hollywood career and his personal life has been instrumental in maintaining a strong marriage.

“I’ve always kept one foot in and one foot out,” he explained, emphasizing that his wife has been a stabilizing force in his life. Macchio credits Fierro, 64, for both “grounding and elevating” him and their children. The couple met when Macchio was just 15 years old and later married in August 1987. They welcomed their daughter, Julia, in 1992 and their son, Daniel, in 1995.

Julia has followed in her father’s footsteps in the entertainment industry, appearing alongside him in Cobra Kai seasons 4 and 5. Speaking about working with her father, Julia described the experience as “such a blessing.”

“He’s the best dad. He’s so supportive… I’ve loved every second… I admire his work ethic and how he handles himself on a set and off of a set,” she shared. “I’ve learned a lot from watching him work and just seeing how he conducts himself… it’s how I wanted to work as well. So, he’s been a wonderful role model for me.”

Since 2018, Macchio has starred in Cobra Kai, which continues the legacy of The Karate Kid. The series revisits the rivalry between Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as they train a new generation of karate students.

Reflecting on the franchise’s success, Macchio admitted he never anticipated The Karate Kid becoming one of the biggest franchises of all time.

“I would love to say I knew it all along. I didn’t know this much. I knew that Pat Morita and myself had something special there, and William Zabka, Elisabeth Shue… the cast felt strong,” Macchio remarked.

“No one could predict the level of success of that film, let alone this. This is beyond. But that’s because we care so much. The writers give so much to the young cast, as well as the legacy cast, if you will.”

Last summer, The Karate Kid celebrated its 40th anniversary. Originally released in 1984, the film starred Macchio and Zabka alongside Hollywood veterans Pat Morita and Martin Kove. The story follows Daniel LaRusso, a newcomer to town, who finds himself entangled in a rivalry with Johnny Lawrence. With the guidance of Mr. Miyagi (Morita), Daniel learns to defend himself both physically and mentally.

Despite portraying a karate champion on screen for decades, Macchio confessed that he has never been in a real-life fight. “I’ve never been. I’ve always negotiated myself out,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve had a push-shove match, a punch here or there, but as far as… a schoolyard fight or a street fight, I figure myself out of those. So far, now that I put that out there, I might be in trouble.”