William Zabka Biography: William Michael Zabka born October 20, 1965 is an American actor best known for portraying Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and the series Cobra Kai (2018–2025). Zabka gained fame with The Karate Kid, despite having no previous karate experience.
William Zabka Biography
William Zabka was born in New York City, New York, USA. He is an accomplished actor and producer, best known for his roles in The Karate Kid (1984), Back to School (1986), and Hot Tub Time Machine (2010). Since 2008, he has been married to Stacie Lynn Doss, and together they have two children. Although Zabka had no martial arts background before filming The Karate Kid, he was a skilled wrestler.
William Zabka Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
William Michael Zabka
October 20, 1965 New York City, New York, U.S.
|
|---|---|
| Education | California State University, Northridge (dropped out) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Spouse |
Stacie Zabka
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
See More:
About William Zabka
William Michael Zabka is an American actor. He is known for his role of Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, and the TV series Cobra Kai. Zabka’s career took off with The Karate Kid, despite having no prior karate training.
William Zabka Wiki
- Born: 20 October 1965 (age 59 years), New York, New York, United States
- Martial art: Tang Soo Do
- Spouse: Stacie Zabka (m. 2008)
- Parents: Stanley Zabka, Nancy Zabka
- Siblings: Guy Zabka, Judy Zabka
- Height: 1.84 m
William Zabka Achievements
Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in several notable films, including Just One of the Guys (1985) and Back to School (1986), as well as the TV series The Equalizer (1986–1989). In the following decades, he turned his focus to independent cinema and filmmaking. His short film Most (2004), which he co-wrote and produced, earned an Academy Award nomination. He also directed music videos, including some for Rascal Flatts.
William Zabka Personal Life
He later pursued martial arts training and has since earned a second-degree green belt in Tang Soo Do. Zabka is fluent in Czech, and interestingly, his surname—pronounced “zhuh-b-kuh”—translates to “little frog” in Czech. He comes from a creative family: his father, Stanley William Zabka, was a director, writer, and composer known for his work on the Chuck Norris film Forced Vengeance (1982).
Early Life
Zabka was born in New York City to Nancy, a producer and production assistant, and Stan Zabka, a director, writer, and composer of Czech and German heritage, originally from Des Moines, Iowa. William has a brother and a sister. His father worked on several film projects, including as a production manager for Forced Vengeance (1982) starring Chuck Norris. He graduated from El Camino Real Charter High School in Los Angeles in 1983 and later studied film at California State University, Northridge.
William Zabka at a Glance
- Category: Richest Celebrities › Actors
- Net Worth: $4 Million
- Birthdate: October 21, 1965 (59 years old)
- Birthplace: New York City
- Gender: Male
- Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
- Profession: Actor, Martial Artist, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Director, Businessman, Musician, Singer-songwriter
- Nationality: United States
Career Highlights
The Karate Kid became a global hit, earning $100 million in the U.S. on a modest $8 million budget and sparking a global karate craze. Inspired by the film, Zabka later trained in Tang Soo Do and achieved a second-degree green belt. In the 1980s, he worked steadily in both film and television, with roles in National Lampoon’s European Vacation, The Karate Kid Part II, The Equalizer, and more.
During the 1990s, Zabka shifted his focus to producing, while still appearing in films like Shootfighter, The Power Within, and Interceptors. In 2003, he wrote and produced Most, a short film that received an Oscar nomination. He has also directed music videos and commercials for brands like Verizon and Little Tikes.
Cobra Kai
In 2017, Zabka and Ralph Macchio collaborated with producers to pitch a reboot of their Karate Kid characters. They received multiple offers from major platforms, ultimately choosing YouTube Red. Zabka and Macchio reportedly earned $100,000 per episode for the first two seasons—about $1 million each per season. Both also serve as co-executive producers. Although the first season received critical praise, it struggled with visibility due to YouTube Red’s limited reach. In August 2020, Netflix picked up the show, where it quickly became a massive hit. At least four seasons have aired or are planned on Netflix.
Personal Life & Real Estate
In 2008, William Zabka married his wife, Stacie. The couple has two children. He purchased a home in Burbank, California, in 1996 for $256,000, which is now valued at around $1 million. In November 2020, he bought a property in Brentwood, Tennessee, for $1.025 million. Sadly, in January 2025, he lost a house in the Los Angeles area due to the Palisades/Eaton wildfires.
What Is William Zabka’s Net Worth and Salary?
William Zabka is an American actor, writer, and director with a net worth of $4 million. He gained fame in the 1980s for his iconic role as Johnny Lawrence, the main antagonist in The Karate Kid (1984). This role made him a household name and often led to him being cast as the stereotypical teen movie bully. He went on to appear in other 1980s films such as Just One of the Guys (1985) and Back to School (1986). Over the years, Zabka continued acting while expanding into work behind the scenes. In 2004, he earned an Academy Award nomination for co-producing and starring in the short film Most. During the 2000s, he made notable TV appearances, including playing a fictionalized version of himself in How I Met Your Mother.
FAQs
Can William Zabka do karate in real life?
Zabka played Johnny Lawrence, the main antagonist to the title character and protagonist played by Ralph Macchio. At the time, Zabka had no training in karate, but was an accomplished wrestler. Participating in the film inspired Zabka to learn the martial art of Tang Soo Do and he later earned a green belt.
Does William Zabka have a belt?
He was not at all experienced in martial arts prior to the filming of The Karate Kid (1984). He was actually an accomplished wrestler. However, in the years since, he has earned a second degree green belt in Tang Soo Do.
How old was William Zabka in Karate Kid 1984?
William ‘Billy’ Zabka Was 18-Years-Old When ‘The Karate Kid’ Premiered.
Did William Zabka lose weight for Cobra Kai?
In an interview with Men’s Health, Zabka said you helped him lose 20 pounds in two weeks. Billy was being generous [laughs]. I only had four to six weeks to train with him, and I guess he lost the bulk of that weight in the first two or three weeks.
How much is William Zabka paid per episode?
What Is His Cobra Kai Salary? Zabka earned $100,000 per episodefor the first two seasons, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which means he made approximately $1 million per season. Given the show’s massive success and longevity, we imagine his paycheck has gotten bigger.