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William Zabka
New York City, New York, USA
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…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Karate Kid: Legends
Movie Johnny Lawrence
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2024
The Cobra Kai Movie
Movie William Zabka
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2024
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Movie Self
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2024
Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo
TV show Self
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2022
Beyond the Bonsai
Movie
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2021
More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
Movie Self
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2021
The Netflix Afterparty
TV show Self
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2020
Jud's Decision
Movie Craft Service
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2020
Reunited Apart
TV show Self
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2018
Cobra Kai
TV show Johnny Lawrence
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2017
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Movie Self
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2016
The Man in the Silo
Movie Kevin
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2015
The Dog Who Saved Summer
Movie Officer Johnny/Apollo
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2015
I Hate Christian Laettner
Movie Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)
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2014
Where Hope Grows
Movie Milton Malcolm
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2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV show Self - Guest
More credits
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2011
Cross
Movie Saw
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2010
Hot Tub Time Machine
Movie Rick
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2007
Smiley Face
Movie Prison Guard
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2007
Cake: A Wedding Story
Movie Sam
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2007
Sweep the Leg
Movie Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
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2006
Psych
TV show Coach Baggs
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2005
How I Met Your Mother
TV show William Zabka
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2005
The Way of The Karate Kid
Movie Self / Johnny
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2004
Wild Roomies
Movie Slick Salesman
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2003
Most
Movie Writer
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2002
Antibody
Movie Otto Emmerick
-
2002
Dark Descent
Movie Marty
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2002
Python 2
Movie Greg Larson
-
2002
Ablaze
Movie Curt Peters
-
2002
Landspeed
Movie Bob Bailey
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2002
Hyper Sonic
Movie The Executive
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2002
Gale Force
Movie Rance
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2001
Epoch
Movie Rover Driver Joe
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2001
Falcon Down
Movie John - Security Guard
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2001
Project: Human Weapon
Movie Rojack
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2000
Python
Movie Greg Larsen
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1999
Interceptors
Movie Dave
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1997
High Voltage
Movie Bulldog
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1996
To the Ends of Time
Movie Alexander
