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William Zabka

Acting 60 years old New York City, New York, USA ★ 1.8
Born: October 20, 1965

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.

External Links

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Known For

Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legends Johnny Lawrence 2025
Shootfighter II
Shootfighter II Ruben 1996
Where Hope Grows
Where Hope Grows Milton Malcolm 2014
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid Johnny Lawrence 1984
Gale Force
Gale Force Rance 2002

Filmography

Acting Credits (52)

Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legends Johnny Lawrence 2025
The Cobra Kai Movie
The Cobra Kai Movie William Zabka 2024
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Self 2024
Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo
Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo Self 2024
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story Self 2021
The Netflix Afterparty
The Netflix Afterparty Self 2021
Reunited Apart
Reunited Apart Self 2020
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence 2018
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs Self 2017
The Man in the Silo
The Man in the Silo Kevin 2016
The Dog Who Saved Summer
The Dog Who Saved Summer Officer Johnny/Apollo 2015
I Hate Christian Laettner
I Hate Christian Laettner Johnny Lawrence (archive footage) 2015
Where Hope Grows
Where Hope Grows Milton Malcolm 2014
Cross
Cross Saw 2011
Hot Tub Time Machine
Hot Tub Time Machine Rick 2010
Smiley Face
Smiley Face Prison Guard 2007
Cake: A Wedding Story
Cake: A Wedding Story Sam 2007
Sweep the Leg
Sweep the Leg Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself 2007
Psych
Psych Coach Baggs 2006
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother William Zabka 2005
The Way of The Karate Kid
The Way of The Karate Kid Self / Johnny 2005
Wild Roomies
Wild Roomies Slick Salesman 2004
Antibody
Antibody Otto Emmerick 2002
Dark Descent
Dark Descent Marty 2002
Python 2
Python 2 Greg Larson 2002
Ablaze
Ablaze Curt Peters 2002
Landspeed
Landspeed Bob Bailey 2002
Hyper Sonic
Hyper Sonic The Executive 2002
Gale Force
Gale Force Rance 2002
Epoch
Epoch Rover Driver Joe 2001
Falcon Down
Falcon Down John - Security Guard 2001
Project: Human Weapon
Project: Human Weapon Rojack 2001
Python
Python Greg Larsen 2000
Interceptors
Interceptors Dave 1999
High Voltage
High Voltage Bulldog 1997
To the Ends of Time
To the Ends of Time Alexander 1996
Shootfighter II
Shootfighter II Ruben 1996
The Power Within
The Power Within Raymond Vonn 1995
Unlawful Passage
Unlawful Passage Howie 1994
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death Ruben 1993
MTV Movie & TV Awards
MTV Movie & TV Awards Self - Presenter 1992
Protect and Surf
Protect and Surf Russell Cooper 1989
A Tiger's Tale
A Tiger's Tale Randy 1988
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story Kim Fisher 1986
The Karate Kid Part II
The Karate Kid Part II Johnny Lawrence 1986
Back to School
Back to School Chas 1986
The Equalizer
The Equalizer Scott McCall 1985
National Lampoon's European Vacation
National Lampoon's European Vacation Jack 1985
Just One of the Guys
Just One of the Guys Greg 1985
Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story
Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story Rick Peterson 1984
E/R
E/R 1984
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid Johnny Lawrence 1984

Directing Credits (2)

Writing Credits (2)

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