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William Zabka

Actor

William Zabka

Born October 20, 1965 in New York City, New York, USA37 films

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.

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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.

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The best way into William Zabka's work
The Karate Kid posterFirst watchThe Karate Kid19847.2as JohnnyNew Jersey teen Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of thugs, led…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Karate Kid: Legends poster7.0Karate Kid: Legends2025The Karate Kid Part II poster6.3The Karate Kid Part II1986Hot Tub Time Machine poster6.0Hot Tub Time Machine2010National Lampoon's European Vacation poster6.2National Lampoon's European Vacation1985Where Hope Grows poster7.9Where Hope Grows2014Back to School poster6.3Back to School1986Just One of the Guys poster6.4Just One of the Guys1985Smiley Face poster6.1Smiley Face2007

Filmography

37 films as actor
  1. 2025Karate Kid: LegendsJohnny Lawrence
  2. 2024The Cobra Kai MovieWilliam Zabka
  3. 2016The Man in the SiloKevin
  4. 2015The Dog Who Saved SummerOfficer Johnny/Apollo
  5. 2014Where Hope GrowsMilton Malcolm
  6. 2011CrossSaw
  7. 2010Hot Tub Time MachineRick
  8. 2007Smiley FacePrison Guard
  9. 2007Cake: A Wedding StorySam
  10. 2004Wild RoomiesSlick Salesman
  11. 2002AntibodyOtto Emmerick
  12. 2002Dark DescentMarty
  13. 2002Python 2Greg Larson
  14. 2002AblazeCurt Peters
  15. 2002LandspeedBob Bailey
  16. 2002Hyper SonicThe Executive
  17. 2002Gale ForceRance
  18. 2001EpochRover Driver Joe
  19. 2001Falcon DownJohn - Security Guard
  20. 2001Project: Human WeaponRojack
  21. 2000PythonGreg Larsen
  22. 1999InterceptorsDave
  23. 1997High VoltageBulldog
  24. 1996To the Ends of TimeAlexander
  25. 1996Shootfighter IIRuben
  26. 1995The Power WithinRaymond Vonn
  27. 1994Unlawful PassageHowie
  28. 1993Shootfighter: Fight to the DeathRuben
  29. 1989Protect and SurfRussell Cooper
  30. 1988A Tiger's TaleRandy
  31. 1986Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher StoryKim Fisher
  32. 1986The Karate Kid Part IIJohnny Lawrence (uncredited)
  33. 1986Back to SchoolChas
  34. 1985National Lampoon's European VacationJack
  35. 1985Just One of the GuysGreg
  36. 1984Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. StoryRick Peterson
  37. 1984The Karate KidJohnny