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William Zabka

Acting Born Oct 20, 1965 New York City, New York, USA 24 credits

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.

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Known for

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self

How I Met Your Mother

as William Zabka

Psych

as Coach Baggs

Cobra Kai

as Johnny Lawrence
Film

Karate Kid: Legends

as Johnny Lawrence

Full filmography

  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
  • How I Met Your Mother (2005) as William Zabka
  • Psych (2006) as Coach Baggs
  • Cobra Kai (2018) as Johnny Lawrence
  • The Equalizer (1985) as Scott McCall
  • MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) as Self - Presenter
  • Karate Kid: Legends (2025) as Johnny Lawrence
  • The Karate Kid (1984) as Johnny Lawrence
  • Where Hope Grows (2014) as Milton Malcolm
  • Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
  • The Karate Kid Part II (1986) as Johnny Lawrence
  • E/R (1984)
  • Smiley Face (2007) as Prison Guard
  • National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) as Jack
  • The Netflix Afterparty (2021) as Self
  • Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) as Rick
  • Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo (2024) as Self
  • Just One of the Guys (1985) as Greg
  • Back to School (1986) as Chas
  • Python (2000) as Greg Larsen
  • Shootfighter: Fight to the Death (1993) as Ruben
  • More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story (2021) as Self
  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (2024) as Self
  • John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2017) as Self