William Zabka
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
Credits
- 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
- 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
- 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 · 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 · Dreams of Gold 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 as
- 1984 · The Karate Kid as Johnny Lawrence