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