William Zabka

William Zabka is a filmmaker, producer, and actor whose breakout role came in his first movie, "The Karate Kid". He played Johnny Lawrence, the main antagonist to the title character and protagonist played by Ralph Macchio.

During the 1980s, Zabka appeared in the comedy movies "Just One of the Guys" and "Back to School". Zabka also co-starred on the CBS television series "The Equalizer" as the son of the title character. He also played Jack, Audrey's jock boyfriend, in "National Lampoon's European Vacation".

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. In 2010, Zabka directed Rascal Flatts in their music video for the song "Why Wait" and also directed the video for their 2017 hit, "Yours If You Want It".

Zabka has made several cameo appearances over the years, including in "Hot Tub Time Machine," "How I Met Your Mother," and in the music video for "Sweep the Leg" by the band No More Kings.

In 2018, Zabka would reprise his role as Johnny Lawrence in a YouTube Red's Karate Kid revival series, "Cobra Kai". He also co-executive produces the series with Ralph Macchio.