William Zabka
Actor, Director, Producer, Writer
October 20, 1965 (60 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 2025 | Karate Kid: Legends · as Johnny Lawrence |
| 2018 | Cobra Kai · as Johnny Lawrence |
| 2016 | The Man in the Silo · as KevinOn Plex |
| 2015 | The Dog Who Saved Summer · as Officer Johnny/apolloOn Plex |
| 2015 | I Hate Christian Laettner · as Johnny Lawrence (archive Footage) |
| 2014 | Where Hope Grows · as Milton Malcolm |
| 2014 | Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street · as Sensei Jeff |
| 2011 | Cross · as Saw |
| 2010 | Hot Tub Time Machine · as Rick |
| 2007 | Smiley Face · as Prison Guard |
| 2007 | Cake: A Wedding Story · as Sam |
| 2007 | Starting from Scratch · as Bill Bowman |
| 2006 | Psych · as Coach Baggs |
| 2005 | Robot Chicken · as American Werewolf |
| 2004 | Wild Roomies · as Slick Salesman |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! · as Johnny Lawrence |
| 2002 | Antibody · as Otto Emmerick |
| 2002 | Dark Descent · as Marty |
| 2002 | Landspeed · as Bob BaileyOn Plex |
| 2002 | Python 2 · as Greg LarsonOn Plex |
| 2002 | Hypersonic · as The ExecutiveOn Plex |
| 2002 | Gale Force · as Rance |
| 2001 | Epoch · as Rover Driver JoeOn Plex |
| 2001 | Ablaze · as Curt PetersOn Plex |
| 2001 | Falcon Down · as John - Security Guard |
| 2001 | Mindstorm · as Rojack |
| 2000 | Python · as Greg LarsenOn Plex |
| 2000 | 18 Wheels of Justice · as Det. BarronOn Plex |
| 1999 | Interceptor Force · as Dave |
| 1997 | High Voltage · as BulldogOn Plex |
| 1996 | To the Ends of Time · as AlexanderOn Plex |
| 1996 | Shootfighter II · as RubenOn Plex |
| 1995 | The Power Within · as Raymond Vonn |
| 1994 | Unlawful Passage · as Howie |
| 1993 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death · as Ruben |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III · as Johnny Lawrence |
| 1988 | The Equalizer: The Mystery of Manon · as Scott Mccall |
| 1987 | A Tiger's Tale · as Randy |
| 1986 | 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 |
| 1985 | The Equalizer · as Scott Mccall |
| 1985 | National Lampoon's European Vacation · as Jack |
| 1985 | Just One of the Guys · as Greg |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid · as Johnny Lawrence |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special · as Rick PetersonOn Plex |
| 1981 | Gimme a Break! · as Jeffrey |
| 1981 | The Greatest American Hero · as Clarence Mortner Jr.On Plex |
| 2024 | Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson · as Self |
| 2024 | Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo · as Self |
| 2021 | 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2021 | More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story · as Self |
| 2020 | The Netflix Afterparty · as Self |
| 2020 | Reunited Apart · as Self |
| 2019 | 2019 Billboard Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2017 | Steve · as Self |
| 2017 | John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs · as Self |
| 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon · as Self |
| 2011 | Dish Nation · as Self |
| 2005 | How I Met Your Mother · as William Zabka |
| 2005 | The Way of the Karate Kid · as Self / Johnny |
| 2002 | Last Call with Carson Daly · as Self |
| 1997 | The View · as Self - Guest |
| 1996 | Access Hollywood · as Self |
| 1994 | Extra · as Self |
| 1992 | MTV Movie & TV Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America · as Self - Guest |
| 1952 | Today · as Self - Guest |
| 2018 |
| 2014 | Never a Neverland · as Executive Producer |
| 2010 | White Wanderer (n.) Mzungu · as Co-Producer |
| 2003 |
| 2003 |
| 2018 | Cobra Kai · as Co-Executive Producer |