William Zabka
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.
Known for
Acting54
movieKarate Kid: Legends
2025
Johnny Lawrence
movieThe Cobra Kai Movie
2024
William Zabka
tvCobra Kai
2018
Johnny Lawrence
movieThe Dog Who Saved Summer
2015
Officer Johnny/Apollo
movieI Hate Christian Laettner
2015
Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)
movieWhere Hope Grows
2014
Milton Malcolm
movieSmiley Face
2007
Prison Guard
movieSweep the Leg
2007
Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
tvPsych
2006
Coach Baggs
tvHow I Met Your Mother
2005
William Zabka
movieWild Roomies
2004
Slick Salesman
movieAntibody
2002
Otto Emmerick
moviePython 2
2002
Greg Larson
movieAblaze
2002
Curt Peters
movieLandspeed
2002
Bob Bailey
movieHyper Sonic
2002
The Executive
movieGale Force
2002
Rance
movieEpoch
2001
Rover Driver Joe
movieFalcon Down
2001
John - Security Guard
moviePython
2000
Greg Larsen
movieHigh Voltage
1997
Bulldog
movieTo the Ends of Time
1996
Alexander
movieThe Power Within
1995
Raymond Vonn
tvMTV Movie & TV Awards
1992
Self - Presenter
movieProtect and Surf
1989
Russell Cooper
movieThe Karate Kid Part II
1986
Johnny Lawrence
tvThe Equalizer
1985
Scott McCall
movieThe Karate Kid
1984
Johnny Lawrence
Directing2
tvCobra Kai
2018
Director
movieSweep the Leg
2007
Director
Production2
tvCobra Kai
2018
Co-Executive Producer
movieMost
2003
Producer
Writing2
movieSweep the Leg
2007
Writer
movieMost
2003
Writer
Crew1
movieJud's Decision
2020
Craft Service
Sound1
movieSweep the Leg
2007
Music Score Producer