William Zabka - Actor
Age: 60
Country: United States Occupations:
Actor
William Michael "Billy" Zabka is an American actor, writer, producer, and director, best known for his portrayal of Johnny Lawrence in the film The Karate Kid (1984) and its sequel, The Karate Kid Part II (1986). He reprised this iconic role in the popular television series Cobra Kai (2018–2025).
🎬 Career Highlights
Breakthrough Role: His career took off with The Karate Kid, where he played the antagonist, Johnny Lawrence, despite having no prior karate training. He later trained in the martial art Tang Soo Do.
Other Notable Films: Zabka appeared in other 1980s films, often as a villain or jock, including Just One of the Guys (1985), National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), and Back to School (1986).
Filmmaking: He later focused on independent films and filmmaking. He co-wrote and produced the short film Most (2003), which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
Television: Zabka had a recurring role as himself, or a caricature of himself, on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. He also co-starred on the CBS series The Equalizer from 1986 to 1989.
Cobra Kai: He serves as an executive producer and the main star, reprising his role as Johnny Lawrence, a down-and-out character seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo.
William Zabka was born on October 20, 1965, in New York City.