William Zabka

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

1965-10-20

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

William Zabka

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.

Gallery

Gallery Image
Gallery Image
Gallery Image
Gallery Image

Acting History

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