William Zabka

Acting

William Zabka

Born October 20, 1965New York City, New York, USA54 credits

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

Filmography

Karate Kid: Legends
2025Karate Kid: Legends
as Johnny LawrenceMovie
The Cobra Kai Movie
2024The Cobra Kai Movie
as William ZabkaMovie
Cobra Kai
2018Cobra Kai
as Johnny LawrenceTV
The Dog Who Saved Summer
2015The Dog Who Saved Summer
as Officer Johnny/ApolloMovie
I Hate Christian Laettner
2015I Hate Christian Laettner
as Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)Movie
Where Hope Grows
2014Where Hope Grows
as Milton MalcolmMovie
Cross
2011Cross
as SawMovie
Smiley Face
2007Smiley Face
as Prison GuardMovie
Sweep the Leg
2007Sweep the Leg
as Johnny Lawrence/HilmselfMovie
Psych
2006Psych
as Coach BaggsTV
How I Met Your Mother
2005How I Met Your Mother
as William ZabkaTV
T
2005The Way of The Karate Kid
as Self / JohnnyMovie
Wild Roomies
2004Wild Roomies
as Slick SalesmanMovie
Most
2003Most
WriterMovie
Antibody
2002Antibody
as Otto EmmerickMovie
Dark Descent
2002Dark Descent
as MartyMovie
Python 2
2002Python 2
as Greg LarsonMovie
Ablaze
2002Ablaze
as Curt PetersMovie
Landspeed
2002Landspeed
as Bob BaileyMovie
Hyper Sonic
2002Hyper Sonic
as The ExecutiveMovie
Gale Force
2002Gale Force
as RanceMovie
Epoch
2001Epoch
as Rover Driver JoeMovie
Falcon Down
2001Falcon Down
as John - Security GuardMovie
Python
2000Python
as Greg LarsenMovie
Interceptors
1999Interceptors
as DaveMovie
High Voltage
1997High Voltage
as BulldogMovie
To the Ends of Time
1996To the Ends of Time
as AlexanderMovie
Shootfighter II
1996Shootfighter II
as RubenMovie
The Power Within
1995The Power Within
as Raymond VonnMovie
MTV Movie & TV Awards
1992MTV Movie & TV Awards
as Self - PresenterTV
Protect and Surf
1989Protect and Surf
as Russell CooperMovie
A Tiger's Tale
1988A Tiger's Tale
as RandyMovie
The Karate Kid Part II
1986The Karate Kid Part II
as Johnny LawrenceMovie
Back to School
1986Back to School
as ChasMovie
The Equalizer
1985The Equalizer
as Scott McCallTV
The Karate Kid
1984The Karate Kid
as Johnny LawrenceMovie