# William Zabka

William Michael Zabka (/ˈzæbkə/; born October 20, 1965) is an American actor. He portrayed Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and the TV series Cobra Kai (2018–2025).
Zabka's career took off with The Karate Kid, despite having no prior karate training. During the 1980s, he appeared in the films Just One of the Guys (1985), Back to School (1986), and the television series The Equalizer (1986–1989). In the 1990s and 2000s, Zabka focused on independent films and filmmaking. In 2004, he was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing and producing the short film Most. Zabka continued directing, including music videos for Rascal Flatts. In 2018, he reprised his role as Johnny Lawrence in the YouTube Red and Netflix series Cobra Kai, which he co-executive produces with Ralph Macchio. The series, set 33 years after the original film, explores the re-opening of the Cobra Kai dojo and the rekindling of the rivalry between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso.

## Early life

Zabka was born in New York City, the son of Nancy, a business liaison, producer, and production assistant, and Stan Zabka, a director, writer, and composer. Zabka has a brother and a sister. Stan is of Czech descent and was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He worked as production manager on many motion pictures, including the Chuck Norris film Forced Vengeance (1982).
In 1983, Zabka graduated from El Camino Real Charter High School in Los Angeles, California, before briefly attending California State University, Northridge and majoring in film.

## Career

Zabka's breakout acting role came in his first movie, The Karate Kid (1984). Zabka played Johnny Lawrence, the main antagonist to the title character and protagonist played by Ralph Macchio. At the time, Zabka had no training in karate, but was an accomplished wrestler. Participating in the film inspired Zabka to learn the martial art of Tang Soo Do and he later earned a green belt.
Later in the 1980s, Zabka appeared in the comedy movies Just One of the Guys (1985) and Back to School (1986). He co-starred on the CBS television series The Equalizer as the son of the title character (1986–89). Zabka also played Jack, Audrey's jock boyfriend, in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985). Zabka later tried to step away from playing the class bully character. In an interview, Zabka mentioned that he was sometimes hassled in public by random people due to the villainous characters he was best known for.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Zabka acted mostly in independent films while studying to be a filmmaker. In 2003, he wrote and produced the short film Most (aka The Bridge) shot on location in the Czech Republic and Poland. Most had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003 and won numerous awards at prestigious film festivals, including Best of Festival at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films in 2003. In 2004, Zabka was nominated for an Academy Award for Most in the Live Action Short Film category.
In 2007, Zabka directed and starred in a music video for the band No More Kings' song, "Sweep the Leg." The video stars Zabka as a caricature of himself, living in a trailer in the desert and obsessed with his role in The Karate Kid. The video includes cameos by several of the original Karate Kid cast members, including Martin Kove and Ralph Macchio.
In 2010, Zabka directed Rascal Flatts in their music video for the song "Why Wait" and also directed the video for their 2017 hit "Yours If You Want It." That same year, Zabka made a cameo appearance in the comedy movie Hot Tub Time Machine.
In 2013, Zabka and Macchio guest starred in the season 8 episode of How I Met Your Mother, "The Bro Mitzvah." Zabka also appeared in several episodes of the sitcom's ninth season, playing a fictional version of himself. Zabka also directed commercials for clients including Little Tikes and Verizon at Heresy in Venice, California.
On August 4, 2017, it was announced that Zabka would reprise his role as Johnny Lawrence in a 10-episode Karate Kid revival series for YouTube Red titled Cobra Kai that debuted in 2018. Zabka also co-executive produces the series with Ralph Macchio. The series begins 33 years after the events of the first film, and revolves around a down and out Johnny who, seeking to rebuild his life, reopens the Cobra Kai dojo. It reignites his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his now deceased mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

## Personal life

Zabka married his wife, Stacie, in 2008 and they have two children.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | Johnny Lawrence | |
| 1985 | Just One of the Guys | Greg Tolan | |
| 1985 | National Lampoon's European Vacation | Jack | |
| 1986 | The Karate Kid Part II | Johnny Lawrence | Minor role |
| 1986 | Back to School | Chas Osborne | |
| 1986 | Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story | Kim Fisher | TV movie |
| 1988 | A Tiger's Tale | Randy | |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III | Johnny Lawrence | Archive footage |
| 1989 | Protect and Surf | Russell Cooper | TV Movie |
| 1991 | For Parents Only | Ted | Alternative title: Mean Parents Suck |
| 1992 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death | Ruben | Alternative title: Shootfighter |
| 1994 | Unlawful Passage | Howie | |
| 1995 | Shootfighter II | Ruben | |
| 1995 | The Power Within | Raymond Vonn | Alternative title: Power Man |
| 1996 | To the Ends of Time | Alexander | |
| 1997 | High Voltage | Bulldog | |
| 1999 | Interceptors | Dave | Alternative titles: Interceptor Force Predator 3: Intercepters The Last Line of Defence |
| 2000 | Epoch | Joe | Television movie |
| 2000 | Python | Greg Larsen | Television movie |
| 2000 | Falcon Down | Security Guard John | |
| 2001 | Ablaze | Curt Peters | |
| 2001 | Mindstorm | Rojack | Alternative titles: Artificial Telepathy Project: Human Weapon |
| 2002 | Gale Force | Rance | |
| 2002 | Python II | Greg Larsen | Television movie, credited as Billy Zabka |
| 2002 | Hyper Sonic | The Executive | |
| 2002 | Landspeed | Bob Bailey | |
| 2002 | Dark Descent | Marty (Opening credits only) | Alternative title: Descent Into Darkness |
| 2002 | Antibody | Otto Emmerick | |
| 2003 | Most | - | Alternative title: The Bridge, screenwriter & producer |
| 2004 | Roomies | Slick Salesman | Alternative title: Wild Roomies |
| 2007 | Smiley Face | Prison guard | |
| 2007 | Cake: A Wedding Story | Sam | Alternative title: Cake: A Wedding Comedy |
| 2007 | Starting from Scratch | Bill Bowman | |
| 2010 | Hot Tub Time Machine | Rick Steelman | |
| 2010 | Mean Parents Suck | Detective Ted Clement | |
| 2011 | Cross | Griff | |
| 2014 | Where Hope Grows | Milton Malcolm | |
| 2015 | The Dog Who Saved Summer | Officer Johnny & Apollo (Voice) | Dual Role |
| 2016 | The Man in the Silo | Kevin | |
| 2024 | The Cobra Kai Movie | Himself | Short Film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | The Greatest American Hero | Clarence Mortner Jr. | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Gimme a Break! | Jeffery | 1 episode |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Rick Peterson | 1 episode |
| 1984–1985 | E/R | Druggie Kid/Thief | 1 episode |
| 1985–1989 | The Equalizer | Scott McCall | 9 episodes |
| 2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Det. Barron | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Johnny Lawrence | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Robot Chicken | Johnny Lawrence, Gibby, American Werewolf (voice) | Guest, season 6, episode 15, "Caffeine-Induced Aneurysm" |
| 2013–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Clown/himself | Guest star (Season 8), recurring role (Season 9) |
| 2014 | Psych | Coach Bagg | Guest star: A Nightmare on State Street |
| 2015 | Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street | Sensei Jeff | Guest, season 2, episode 9, "Stanley and the Tattoo of Tall Tales" |
| 2015 | To Appomattox | John Rawlins | TV Miniseries |
| 2018–2025 | Cobra Kai | Johnny Lawrence | Main role, also executive producer and directed episode "Rattled" |

## Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues | Johnny Lawrence (voice) | |
| 2022 | Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising | Johnny Lawrence (voice) | |

## Award nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Musical, Comedy, Adventure or Drama | The Karate Kid | Nominated |
| 2004 | Academy Awards | Best Live Action Short Film | Most (shared with Bobby Garabedian) | Nominated |