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William Zabka

William Zabka

Actor, also producer · Born October 20, 1965 (61) · New York City, New York, USA

Oscar nominee · Primetime Emmy nominee

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 20, 1965 (61)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 49 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 21% in 30 days

What are William Zabka's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 4th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
23%
Self
22%
Survival
20%
Morality
14%
Society
10%
Power
6%
Ideas
5%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 10 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 10
Ally
3 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Trickster
1 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Joyful
5
Warm
6
Absurd
6
Hopeful
5
Other
20

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch William Zabka's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Zabka's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

49 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Karate Kid: Legends(2025)

    as Johnny Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Cobra Kai Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as William Zabka

  • Beyond the Bonsai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Jud's Decision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Craft Service

  • Cobra Kai(2018)

    Show 65 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer · as Johnny Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Man in the Silo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Kevin

  • The Dog Who Saved Summer(2015)

    as Officer Johnny/Apollo

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • I Hate Christian Laettner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Johnny Lawrence (archive footage)

  • Where Hope Grows(2014)

    as Milton Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Never a Neverland(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cross(2011)

    as Saw

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Hot Tub Time Machine(2010)

    as Rick

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Smiley Face(2007)

    as Prison Guard

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Cake: A Wedding Story(2007)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Sweep the Leg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Music Score Producer · Writer · as Johnny Lawrence/Hilmself

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Baggs

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 7 episodes · as William Zabka

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Wild Roomies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Slick Salesman

  • Most (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Producer · Writer

  • Antibody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Otto Emmerick

  • Dark Descent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Marty

  • Python 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Greg Larson

  • Ablaze(2001)

    as Curt Peters

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Landspeed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Bob Bailey

  • Hyper Sonic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as The Executive

  • Gale Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Rance

  • Epoch(2001)

    as Rover Driver Joe

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Falcon Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as John - Security Guard

  • Mindstorm(2001)

    as Rojack

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Python(2000)

    as Greg Larsen

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Interceptors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Dave

  • High Voltage(1997)

    as Bulldog

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • To the Ends of Time(1996)

    as Alexander

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Shootfighter II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Ruben

  • The Power Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Raymond Vonn

  • Unlawful Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Howie

  • Shootfighter: Fight to the Death(1993)

    as Ruben

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Protect and Surf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Russell Cooper

  • A Tiger's Tale(1987)

    as Randy

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story(1986)

    as Kim Fisher

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Karate Kid Part II(1986)

    as Johnny Lawrence (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Back to School(1986)

    as Chas

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 11 episodes · as Scott McCall

  • National Lampoon's European Vacation(1985)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Just One of the Guys(1985)

    as Greg

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Rick Peterson

  • E/R (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Karate Kid(1984)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Greatest American Hero(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Clarence Mortner Jr.

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles from 1981 to 2025; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Back to School (1986)

$91M worldwide

Highest rated

Cobra Kai (2018)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19812025

Peak 1984 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 48: 44 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting2 of 48: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting2 of 48: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing2 of 48: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleMusic1 of 48: 0 only music, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 48: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

48 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s12 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s18 · 17 acting · 2 crew2010s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 7% of 15 roles
849404

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 major nominations and no wins, 2004–2021.

  1. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
  2. 2004
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Short Film, Live Action

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do William Zabka's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · producer

Never a Neverland (2014)

96th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

How I Met Your Mother (2005)

Midcredits 94th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 51/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 31. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is William Zabka's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles22–76 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles24–61 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles36–68 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles31–71 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles5–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does William Zabka work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Zabka's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Martin Kove shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Producers