Actor
William Zabka
- Born: 20 October 1965, New York City, New York, USA
- Estimated net worth: $3 million
William Zabka is an American actor, producer, and director known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in the 'Karate Kid' series. His career spans decades, with notable appearances in film and television, including the series 'Cobra Kai.' He is recognized for his…
William Zabka: best films and shows
About William Zabka
William Zabka is an American actor, producer, and director known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in the 'Karate Kid' series. His career spans decades, with notable appearances in film and television, including the series 'Cobra Kai.' He is recognized for his distinctive voice and ability to portray both villains and sympathetic characters.
- Born
- 20 October 1965, New York City, New York, USA
- Height
- 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
- Spouses
- Stacie Zabka (2008-present)
- Children
- 2 children (names not publicly known)
- Parents
- Stan Zabka, Nancy Zabka
- Estimated net worth
- $3 million
Fun facts about William Zabka
- William Zabka was a competitive martial artist before his acting career, which helped him perform his own stunts in films.
- He won a Daytime Emmy Award for producing the short film 'Most' in 2003.
Famous William Zabka quotes
“You're the best around!”
“I’m not a loser.”
“You have to strike first, strike hard, no mercy.”
William Zabka filmography
Cast (54)
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Karate Kid: Legends Movie | Johnny Lawrence | 7.0 |
| 2024 | The Cobra Kai Movie Movie | William Zabka | 8.6 |
| 2024 | Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Movie | Self | 5.5 |
| 2024 | Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo TV | Self | 8.9 |
| 2022 | Beyond the Bonsai Movie | Unknown character | |
| 2021 | More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story Movie | Self | 7.1 |
| 2021 | The Netflix Afterparty TV | Self | 5.7 |
| 2020 | Reunited Apart TV | Self | 5.5 |
| 2018 | Cobra Kai TV | Johnny Lawrence | 8.2 |
| 2017 | John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs Movie | Self | 6.8 |
Show 44 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Man in the Silo Movie | Kevin | |
| 2015 | The Dog Who Saved Summer Movie | Officer Johnny/Apollo | 6.1 |
| 2015 | I Hate Christian Laettner Movie | Johnny Lawrence (archive footage) | 7.0 |
| 2014 | Where Hope Grows Movie | Milton Malcolm | 7.9 |
| 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon TV | Self - Guest | 5.8 |
| 2011 | Cross Movie | Saw | 4.0 |
| 2010 | Hot Tub Time Machine Movie | Rick | 6.1 |
| 2007 | Smiley Face Movie | Prison Guard | 6.1 |
| 2007 | Cake: A Wedding Story Movie | Sam | 8.0 |
| 2006 | Psych TV | Coach Baggs | 7.9 |
| 2005 | How I Met Your Mother TV | William Zabka | 8.1 |
| 2005 | The Way of The Karate Kid Movie | Self / Johnny | 7.5 |
| 2004 | Wild Roomies Movie | Slick Salesman | 4.0 |
| 2002 | Antibody Movie | Otto Emmerick | 4.3 |
| 2002 | Dark Descent Movie | Marty | 3.7 |
| 2002 | Python 2 Movie | Greg Larson | 5.5 |
| 2002 | Ablaze Movie | Curt Peters | 4.0 |
| 2002 | Landspeed Movie | Bob Bailey | 5.3 |
| 2002 | Hyper Sonic Movie | The Executive | 6.2 |
| 2002 | Gale Force Movie | Rance | 5.7 |
| 2001 | Epoch Movie | Rover Driver Joe | 4.8 |
| 2001 | Falcon Down Movie | John - Security Guard | 5.0 |
| 2001 | Project: Human Weapon Movie | Rojack | 3.2 |
| 2000 | Python Movie | Greg Larsen | 5.2 |
| 1999 | Interceptors Movie | Dave | 4.7 |
| 1997 | High Voltage Movie | Bulldog | 5.1 |
| 1996 | To the Ends of Time Movie | Alexander | 5.6 |
| 1996 | Shootfighter II Movie | Ruben | 6.0 |
| 1995 | The Power Within Movie | Raymond Vonn | 5.9 |
| 1994 | Unlawful Passage Movie | Howie | 3.0 |
| 1993 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death Movie | Ruben | 6.6 |
| 1992 | MTV Movie & TV Awards TV | Self - Presenter | 7.9 |
| 1989 | Protect and Surf Movie | Russell Cooper | 5.0 |
| 1988 | A Tiger's Tale Movie | Randy | 4.5 |
| 1986 | Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story Movie | Kim Fisher | 7.4 |
| 1986 | The Karate Kid Part II Movie | Johnny Lawrence (uncredited) | 6.4 |
| 1986 | Back to School Movie | Chas | 6.3 |
| 1985 | The Equalizer TV | Scott McCall | 7.2 |
| 1985 | National Lampoon's European Vacation Movie | Jack | 6.2 |
| 1985 | Just One of the Guys Movie | Greg | 6.4 |
| 1984 | Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story Movie | Rick Peterson | |
| 1984 | E/R TV | Unknown character | 5.7 |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid Movie | Johnny | 7.2 |
| 1981 | The Greatest American Hero TV | Clarence Mortner Jr. | 7.2 |
Crew (5)
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jud's Decision Movie | Craft Service · Crew | 4.0 |
| 2018 | Cobra Kai TV | Co-Executive Producer · Production | 8.2 |
| 2018 | Cobra Kai TV | Director · Directing | 8.2 |
| 2003 | Most Movie | Writer · Writing | 7.3 |
| 2003 | Most Movie | Producer · Production | 7.3 |
Latest releases
- Karate Kid: Legends2025 / TMDB 7.0
- The Cobra Kai Movie2024 / TMDB 8.6
- More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story2021 / TMDB 7.1
- John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs2017 / TMDB 6.8
- The Man in the Silo2016
Questions about William Zabka
What are William Zabka's most famous roles?
William Zabka is best known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in 'The Karate Kid' series and its sequel series 'Cobra Kai.'
Has William Zabka won any awards?
William Zabka won a Daytime Emmy Award for his short film 'Most' in 2004. He has also received nominations for his work in 'Cobra Kai.'
What was William Zabka's first film?
William Zabka's first film role was in 'The Karate Kid' (1984), where he played the antagonist Johnny Lawrence.
What other films has William Zabka appeared in?
In addition to 'The Karate Kid,' Zabka has appeared in films like 'Back to School' (1986) and 'Hot Tub Time Machine' (2010).
Is William Zabka involved in any television projects?
Yes, William Zabka stars in the Netflix series 'Cobra Kai,' which continues the story of 'The Karate Kid' decades later.
What is William Zabka's estimated net worth?
William Zabka's estimated net worth is around $3 million, reflecting his career in acting and producing.
Did William Zabka have a career before acting?
Before acting, William Zabka was a competitive martial artist and also worked behind the scenes in film production.
What is a defining characteristic of William Zabka's acting style?
William Zabka is known for his ability to portray both villains and layered characters, often with a blend of charm and intensity.