
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.

Karate Kid: Legends
Johnny Lawrence
2025

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Self
2024

Cobra Kai: Inside the Dojo
Self · (3 episodes)
2024

More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story
Self
2021

The Netflix Afterparty
Self · (1 episode)
2021

Reunited Apart
Self · (1 episode)
2020

Cobra Kai
Johnny Lawrence · (65 episodes)
2018

John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
2017

The Man in the Silo
Kevin
2016

The Dog Who Saved Summer
Officer Johnny/Apollo
2015

Where Hope Grows
Milton Malcolm
2014

Cross
Saw
2011

Hot Tub Time Machine
Rick
2010

Smiley Face
Prison Guard
2007

Cake: A Wedding Story
Sam
2007

Sweep the Leg
Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself
2007

Psych
Coach Baggs · (1 episode)
2006

How I Met Your Mother
William Zabka · (7 episodes)
2005
The Way of The Karate Kid
Self / Johnny
2005

Wild Roomies
Slick Salesman
2004

Antibody
Otto Emmerick
2002

Dark Descent
Marty
2002

Python 2
Greg Larson
2002

Ablaze
Curt Peters
2002

Landspeed
Bob Bailey
2002

Hyper Sonic
The Executive
2002

Gale Force
Rance
2002

Epoch
Rover Driver Joe
2001

Falcon Down
John - Security Guard
2001

Project: Human Weapon
Rojack
2001

Python
Greg Larsen
2000

Interceptors
Dave
1999

High Voltage
Bulldog
1997

To the Ends of Time
Alexander
1996

Shootfighter II
Ruben
1996

The Power Within
Raymond Vonn
1995

Unlawful Passage
Howie
1994

Shootfighter: Fight to the Death
Ruben
1993

MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1992

Protect and Surf
Russell Cooper
1989

A Tiger's Tale
Randy
1988

Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story
Kim Fisher
1986

The Karate Kid Part II
Johnny Lawrence
1986

Back to School
Chas
1986

The Equalizer
Scott McCall · (11 episodes)
1985

National Lampoon's European Vacation
Jack
1985

Just One of the Guys
Greg
1985
Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story
Rick Peterson
1984

E/R
(1 episode)
1984

The Karate Kid
Johnny Lawrence
1984