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.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
How I Met Your Mother
Psych
Cobra Kai
The Equalizer
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Karate Kid: Legends
The Karate Kid
All Movies (44)
- Karate Kid: Legends2025 · as Johnny Lawrence
- The Cobra Kai Movie2024 · as William Zabka
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson2024 · as Self
- Beyond the Bonsai2022
- More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story2021 · as Self
- John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs2017 · as Self
- The Man in the Silo2016 · as Kevin
- The Dog Who Saved Summer2015 · as Officer Johnny/Apollo
- I Hate Christian Laettner2015 · as Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)
- Where Hope Grows2014 · as Milton Malcolm
- Cross2011 · as Saw
- Hot Tub Time Machine2010 · as Rick
- Smiley Face2007 · as Prison Guard
- Cake: A Wedding Story2007 · as Sam
- Sweep the Leg2007 · as Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
- The Way of The Karate Kid2005 · as Self / Johnny
- Wild Roomies2004 · as Slick Salesman
- Antibody2002 · as Otto Emmerick
- Dark Descent2002 · as Marty
- Python 22002 · as Greg Larson
- Ablaze2002 · as Curt Peters
- Landspeed2002 · as Bob Bailey
- Hyper Sonic2002 · as The Executive
- Gale Force2002 · as Rance
- Epoch2001 · as Rover Driver Joe
- Falcon Down2001 · as John - Security Guard
- Project: Human Weapon2001 · as Rojack
- Python2000 · as Greg Larsen
- Interceptors1999 · as Dave
- High Voltage1997 · as Bulldog
- To the Ends of Time1996 · as Alexander
- Shootfighter II1996 · as Ruben
- The Power Within1995 · as Raymond Vonn
- Unlawful Passage1994 · as Howie
- Shootfighter: Fight to the Death1993 · as Ruben
- Protect and Surf1989 · as Russell Cooper
- A Tiger's Tale1988 · as Randy
- Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story1986 · as Kim Fisher
- The Karate Kid Part II1986 · as Johnny Lawrence
- Back to School1986 · as Chas
- National Lampoon's European Vacation1985 · as Jack
- Just One of the Guys1985 · as Greg
- Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story1984 · as Rick Peterson
- The Karate Kid1984 · as Johnny Lawrence
All TV Shows (10)
- Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo2024 · as Self
- The Netflix Afterparty2021 · as Self
- Reunited Apart2020 · as Self
- Cobra Kai2018 · as Johnny Lawrence
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
- Psych2006 · as Coach Baggs
- How I Met Your Mother2005 · as William Zabka
- MTV Movie & TV Awards1992 · as Self - Presenter
- The Equalizer1985 · as Scott McCall
- E/R1984