William Zabka

William Michael Zabka (; born October 20, 1965) is an American actor. He is best known for his role of Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and the TV series Cobra Kai (2018–2025).

Zabka's career took off with The Karate Kid, despite having no prior karate training. During the 1980s, he appeared in the films Just One of the Guys (1985), Back to School (1986), and the television series The Equalizer (1986–1989). In the 1990s and 2000s, Zabka focused on independent films and filmmaking. In 2004, he was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing and producing the short film Most. Zabka continued his directing career, including music videos for Rascal Flatts. From 2018 to 2025, Zabka reprised his role as Johnny Lawrence in the YouTube Red and Netflix series Cobra Kai, which he co-executive produced with Karate Kid costar Ralph Macchio.

Early life

Zabka was born on October 20, 1965, in New York City, the son of Nancy, a business liaison, producer, and production assistant, and Stan Zabka, a director, writer, and composer. Zabka has a brother and a sister. Stan is of Czech and German descent and was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He worked as production manager on many motion pictures, including the Chuck Norris film Forced Vengeance (1982).

Zabka lived in Long Island until he was 10, when his family then moved to San Fernando Valley California. In 1983, Zabka graduated from El Camino Real Charter High School in Los Angeles, before briefly attending California State University, Northridge and majoring in film.