William Zabka
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
2014
Series
How I Met Your Mother
William Zabka
2005
Series
Psych
Coach Baggs
2006
Series
Cobra Kai
Johnny Lawrence
2018
Series
The Equalizer
Scott McCall
1985
Series
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self - Presenter
1992
Film
The Karate Kid
Johnny
1984
Film
Karate Kid: Legends
Johnny Lawrence
2025
Series
The Greatest American Hero
Clarence Mortner Jr.
1981
Film
Hot Tub Time Machine
Rick
2010
Series
Reunited Apart
Self
2020
Film
The Karate Kid Part II
Johnny Lawrence (uncredited)
1986
Film
National Lampoon's European Vacation
Jack
1985
Film
Where Hope Grows
Milton Malcolm
2014
Film
Smiley Face
Prison Guard
2007
Film
Back to School
Chas
1986
Series
E/R
1984
Series
The Netflix Afterparty
Self
2021
Series
Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo
Self
2024
Film
Just One of the Guys
Greg
1985
Film
Cross
Saw
2011
Film
Python
Greg Larsen
2000
Film
High Voltage
Bulldog
1997
Film
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death
Ruben
1993
Film
Epoch
Rover Driver Joe
2001
Film
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
2017
Film
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
Self
2021
Film
Python 2
Greg Larson
2002
Film
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Self
2024
Film
Antibody
Otto Emmerick
2002
Film
Landspeed
Bob Bailey
2002
Film
Shootfighter II
Ruben
1996
Film
Interceptors
Dave
1999
Film
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story
Kim Fisher
1986
Film
I Hate Christian Laettner
Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)
2015
Film
Ablaze
Curt Peters
2002
Film
The Dog Who Saved Summer
Officer Johnny/Apollo
2015
Film
To the Ends of Time
Alexander
1996
Film
The Power Within
Raymond Vonn
1995
Film
A Tiger's Tale
Randy
1988
Film
Gale Force
Rance
2002
Film
Wild Roomies
Slick Salesman
2004
Film
Hyper Sonic
The Executive
2002
Film
Dark Descent
Marty
2002
Film
Cake: A Wedding Story
Sam
2007
Film
The Cobra Kai Movie
William Zabka
2024
Film
Falcon Down
John - Security Guard
2001
Film
Protect and Surf
Russell Cooper
1989
Film
The Man in the Silo
Kevin
2016
Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story
Rick Peterson
1984
Film
Project: Human Weapon
Rojack
2001
Beyond the Bonsai
2022
Film
Sweep the Leg
Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
2007
Film
Unlawful Passage
Howie
1994
The Way of The Karate Kid
Self / Johnny
2005