William Zabka
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1965-10-20 (59 years old)
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
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
Acting
(2025)
Karate Kid: Legends
as Johnny Lawrence
(2024)
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
as Self
(2021)
(2017)
(2016)
The Man in the Silo
as Kevin
(2015)
The Dog Who Saved Summer
as Officer Johnny/Apollo
(2014)
Where Hope Grows
as Milton Malcolm
(2011)
Cross
as Saw
(2010)
Hot Tub Time Machine
as Rick
(2007)
Smiley Face
as Prison Guard
(2007)
Sweep the Leg
as Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
(2007)
Cake: A Wedding Story
as Sam
(2005)
The Way of The Karate Kid
as Self / Johnny
(2004)
Wild Roomies
as Slick Salesman
(2002)
Ablaze
as Curt Peters
(2002)
Python 2
as Greg Larson
(2002)
Antibody
as Otto Emmerick
(2002)
Gale Force
as Rance
(2002)
Landspeed
as Bob Bailey
(2002)
Hyper Sonic
as The Executive
(2002)
Dark Descent
as Marty
(2001)
Epoch
as Rover Driver Joe
(2001)
Falcon Down
as John - Security Guard
(2001)
Project: Human Weapon
as Rojack
(2000)
Python
as Greg Larsen
(1999)
Interceptors
as Dave
(1997)
High Voltage
as Bulldog
(1996)
Shootfighter II
as Ruben
(1996)
To the Ends of Time
as Alexander
(1995)
The Power Within
as Raymond Vonn
(1994)
Unlawful Passage
as Howie
(1993)
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death
as Ruben
(1989)
Protect and Surf
as Russell Cooper
(1988)
A Tiger's Tale
as Randy
(1986)
The Karate Kid Part II
as Johnny Lawrence
(1986)
Back to School
as Chas
(1986)
Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story
as Kim Fisher
(1985)
(1985)
Just One of the Guys
as Greg
(1984)
The Karate Kid
as Johnny Lawrence
(1984)
Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story
as Rick Peterson
Crew
(2020)
Jud's Decision
Craft Service
(2007)
Sweep the Leg
Director, Writer, Music Score Producer
(2003)
Most
Writer, Producer