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.
Born: 20 October 1965
Played In
Movie
May 2025
Karate Kid: Legends
Johnny Lawrence
Movie
Nov 2024
The Cobra Kai Movie
William Zabka
Movie
Nov 2024
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Self
TV Show
Jul 2024
Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo
Self
Movie
Aug 2022
Beyond the Bonsai
Movie
Feb 2021
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
Self
TV Show
Jan 2021
The Netflix Afterparty
Self
TV Show
Apr 2020
Reunited Apart
Self
TV Show
May 2018
Cobra Kai
Johnny Lawrence
Movie
Aug 2017
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
Movie
Jan 2016
The Man in the Silo
Kevin
Movie
Jun 2015
The Dog Who Saved Summer
Officer Johnny/Apollo
Movie
Mar 2015
I Hate Christian Laettner
Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)
Movie
Apr 2014
Where Hope Grows
Milton Malcolm
TV Show
Feb 2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
Movie
May 2011
Cross
Saw
Movie
Mar 2010
Hot Tub Time Machine
Rick
Movie
Nov 2007
Smiley Face
Prison Guard
Movie
Oct 2007
Cake: A Wedding Story
Sam
Movie
Mar 2007
Sweep the Leg
Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
TV Show
Jul 2006
Psych
Coach Baggs
TV Show
Sep 2005
How I Met Your Mother
William Zabka
Movie
Feb 2005
The Way of The Karate Kid
Self / Johnny
Movie
Jun 2004
Wild Roomies
Slick Salesman
Movie
Dec 2002
Antibody
Otto Emmerick
Movie
Aug 2002
Dark Descent
Marty
Movie
Jul 2002
Python 2
Greg Larson
Movie
Jul 2002
Ablaze
Curt Peters
Movie
Jun 2002
Landspeed
Bob Bailey
Movie
Jan 2002
Hyper Sonic
The Executive
Movie
Jan 2002
Gale Force
Rance
Movie
Nov 2001
Epoch
Rover Driver Joe
Movie
Apr 2001
Falcon Down
John - Security Guard
Movie
Jan 2001
Project: Human Weapon
Rojack
Movie
Aug 2000
Python
Greg Larsen
Movie
Sep 1999
Interceptors
Dave
Movie
Nov 1997
High Voltage
Bulldog
Movie
Oct 1996
To the Ends of Time
Alexander
Movie
Aug 1996
Shootfighter II
Ruben
Movie
Oct 1995
The Power Within
Raymond Vonn
Movie
Jan 1994
Unlawful Passage
Howie
Movie
May 1993
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death
Ruben
TV Show
Jun 1992
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self - Presenter
Movie
Aug 1989
Protect and Surf
Russell Cooper
Movie
Feb 1988
A Tiger's Tale
Randy
Movie
Nov 1986
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story
Kim Fisher
Movie
Jun 1986
The Karate Kid Part II
Johnny Lawrence
Movie
Jun 1986
Back to School
Chas
TV Show
Sep 1985
The Equalizer
Scott McCall
Movie
Jul 1985
National Lampoon's European Vacation
Jack
Movie
Apr 1985
Just One of the Guys
Greg
Movie
Dec 1984
Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story
Rick Peterson
TV Show
Sep 1984
E/R
Movie
Jun 1984
The Karate Kid
Johnny Lawrence