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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (42)
The Alex Leyba Movie II
as Self (archive footage)
2025
Karate Kid: Legends
as Johnny Lawrence
2025
The Cobra Kai Movie
as William Zabka
2024
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
as Self
2024
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
as Self
2021
Jud's Decision
Craft Service (Crew)
2020
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
as Self
2017
The Man in the Silo
as Kevin
2016
The Dog Who Saved Summer
as Officer Johnny/Apollo
2015
Where Hope Grows
as Milton Malcolm
2014
Cross
as Saw
2011
Hot Tub Time Machine
as Rick
2010
Smiley Face
as Prison Guard
2007
Cake: A Wedding Story
as Sam
2007
Sweep the Leg
as Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
2007
The Way of The Karate Kid
as Self / Johnny
2005
Wild Roomies
as Slick Salesman
2004
Most
Writer (Writing)
2003
Antibody
as Otto Emmerick
2002
Dark Descent
as Marty
2002
Python 2
as Greg Larson
2002
Ablaze
as Curt Peters
2002
Landspeed
as Bob Bailey
2002
Hyper Sonic
as The Executive
2002
Gale Force
as Rance
2002
Epoch
as Rover Driver Joe
2001
Falcon Down
as John - Security Guard
2001
Project: Human Weapon
as Rojack
2001
Python
as Greg Larsen
2000
Interceptors
as Dave
1999
High Voltage
as Bulldog
1997
To the Ends of Time
as Alexander
1996
Shootfighter II
as Ruben
1996
The Power Within
as Raymond Vonn
1995
Unlawful Passage
as Howie
1994
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death
as Ruben
1993
Protect and Surf
as Russell Cooper
1989
A Tiger's Tale
as Randy
1988
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story
as Kim Fisher
1986
The Karate Kid Part II
as Johnny Lawrence
1986
Back to School
as Chas
1986
National Lampoon's European Vacation
as Jack
1985
