William Zabka
Born: 1965-10-20 in New York City, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2025
- Karate Kid: Legends as Johnny Lawrence
- The Alex Leyba Movie II as Self (archive footage)
2024
- Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson as Self
- Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo as Self
- The Cobra Kai Movie as William Zabka
2021
- More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story as Self
- The Netflix Afterparty as Self
2020
- Reunited Apart as Self
- Jud's Decision ... (Craft Service)
2018
- Cobra Kai as Johnny Lawrence
2017
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
- Sweep the Leg as Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
- Cake: A Wedding Story as Sam
2006
- Psych as Coach Baggs
2005
- How I Met Your Mother as William Zabka
- The Way of The Karate Kid as Self / Johnny
2004
- Wild Roomies as Slick Salesman
2003
- Most ... (Writer)
2002
- Hyper Sonic as The Executive
- Ablaze as Curt Peters
- Python 2 as Greg Larson
- Dark Descent as Marty
- Antibody as Otto Emmerick
- Landspeed as Bob Bailey
- Gale Force as Rance
2001
- Falcon Down as John - Security Guard
- Epoch as Rover Driver Joe
- 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
- 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
- The Karate Kid Part II as Johnny Lawrence
- Back to School as Chas
- Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story as Kim Fisher
1985
- The Equalizer as Scott McCall
- National Lampoon's European Vacation as Jack
- Just One of the Guys as Greg
1984
- The Karate Kid as Johnny Lawrence
- E/R
- Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story as Rick Peterson