William Zabka

William Michael Zabka (born October 20, 1965) is an American actor best known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and the TV series Cobra Kai (2018–present). Born in New York City, Zabka comes from a family with a background in the entertainment industry. His father, Stan Zabka, was a director, writer, and composer, while his mother, Nancy, worked as a business liaison, producer, and production assistant. Zabka's acting career took off with his debut in The Karate Kid, where he portrayed the main antagonist, Johnny Lawrence. He also received an Academy Award nomination for co-writing and producing the short film Most in 2004.