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William Zabka

William Zabka

Actor · Born 1965-10-20 · New York City, New York, USA

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Biography

William Michael "Billy" Zabka (born October 20, 1965) is an American actor, martial artist, screenwriter, and film producer. Zabka is best known for his role of Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and decades later reprises the role of Johnny in the Netflix series Cobra Kai (2018-), along with Ralph Macchio as Daniel. During the 1980s, Zabka appeared in the comedy movies Just One of the Guys (1985) and Back to School (1986). Zabka also co-starred on the CBS television series The Equalizer as the son of the title character (1986–89). He also played Jack, Audrey's jock boyfriend, in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985). During the 1990s and 2000s, he acted mostly in independent films while studying to be a filmmaker. In 2003, he wrote and produced the short film Most, shot on location in the Czech Republic and Poland. Most (aka The Bridge) had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 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, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Most in the Live Action Short Film category.

Movies & TV Shows

  1. Cobra Kai (2018) — Johnny Lawrence
  2. How I Met Your Mother (2005) — William Zabka
  3. The Karate Kid (1984) — Johnny
  4. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) — Rick
  5. The Karate Kid Part II (1986) — Johnny Lawrence (uncredited)
  6. Karate Kid: Legends (2025) — Johnny Lawrence
  7. National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) — Jack
  8. Psych (2006) — Coach Baggs
  9. Back to School (1986) — Chas
  10. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) — Self
  11. Just One of the Guys (1985) — Greg
  12. Smiley Face (2007) — Prison Guard
  13. Where Hope Grows (2014) — Milton Malcolm
  14. Python (2000) — Greg Larsen
  15. Shootfighter: Fight to the Death (1993) — Ruben
  16. Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (2024) — Self
  17. The Equalizer (1985) — Scott McCall
  18. Epoch (2001) — Rover Driver Joe
  19. Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo (2024) — Self
  20. Cross (2011) — Saw
  21. Python 2 (2002) — Greg Larson
  22. More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story (2021) — Self
  23. I Hate Christian Laettner (2015) — Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)
  24. Shootfighter II (1996) — Ruben
  25. Antibody (2002) — Otto Emmerick
  26. Wild Roomies (2004) — Slick Salesman
  27. High Voltage (1997) — Bulldog
  28. Interceptors (1999) — Dave
  29. A Tiger's Tale (1988) — Randy
  30. Falcon Down (2001) — John - Security Guard
  31. MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) — Self - Presenter
  32. The Dog Who Saved Summer (2015) — Officer Johnny/Apollo
  33. The Netflix Afterparty (2021) — Self
  34. Gale Force (2002) — Rance
  35. The Power Within (1995) — Raymond Vonn
  36. Ablaze (2002) — Curt Peters
  37. E/R (1984)
  38. Hyper Sonic (2002) — The Executive
  39. Dark Descent (2002) — Marty
  40. Project: Human Weapon (2001) — Rojack

Directed

  1. Cobra Kai (2018) — Director
  2. Sweep the Leg (2007) — Director