More than three decades after the events of The Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence renewed their rivalry, and their kids joined the fight against enemies old and new. That's the premise of Cobra Kai, the hit Netflix show that reunites the actors from the original Karate Kid films. The series was a surprise hit when it premiered on YouTube Red on May 2, 2018, with over 5 million viewers watching it on its first day. After two seasons, the series moved to Netflix, where it became a phenomenon and one of the most-watched shows on the streaming service. The series is set to end after six seasons, with a feature film to follow.
Nominated for eight Primetime Emmys, the series is celebrated by fans of the original films for embracing its source material. The series is a true sequel and not a soft reboot, relying heavily on continuing original storylines being both nostalgic and originally entertaining. Unlike other revivals, Cobra Kai does not "pass the torch" from one generation of actors to a younger one. Instead, the original characters serve as the leads, particularly Daniel and Johnny, while their children have compelling storylines on their own.
Following is a breakdown of the major characters in Cobra Kai and the actors who portray them.
Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
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More than thirty years after he won the All-Valley Karate Tournament, Daniel LaRusso built a successful chain of car dealerships, capitalizing on his reputation as a champion. With a wife and two kids, Daniel was living a good life, until he crossed paths with Johnny Lawrence once again. After he learned Johnny had revived Cobra Kai, he brought back Miyagi-Do Karate, offering a peaceful alternative to Johnny's aggressive tactics. He soon realized that Johnny is the least of his problems, as ghosts from his past reemerged. While Daniel took many of Mr. Miyagi's teachings to heart, he can still be stubborn and prideful at times, which complicated matters for him.
Ralph Macchio rose to fame in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders in 1983 but became one of the biggest stars of the 1980s with the Karate Kid movies. In 1992, he starred in My Cousin Vinny, and he has seen a career resurgence, thanks in large part to Cobra Kai. He has recently appeared on The Deuce, Psych, and How I Met Your Mother. Macchio serves as an executive producer on Cobra Kai.
William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
Johnny Lawrence never recovered from his tournament loss to Daniel, and with a failed marriage and a son who won't talk to him, he's lived an aimless life. After he saved Miguel Diaz from being beaten up, Johnny was inspired to begin teaching the Cobra Kai way of karate and opened up a dojo to teach others. Daniel was initially against Johnny reviving Cobra Kai, but the two formed an uneasy alliance when Johnny softened his approach, and greater villains emerged. Stubborn, opinionated, and politically incorrect, Johnny is an analog man in a digital world and has no patience for the laziness and sensitivity of modern teenagers. His attitude often undermines his attempts to reconcile with his son Robby.
William Zabka had his first feature film role as Johnny in The Karate Kid in 1984 and would go on to appear in numerous films and television series, including Back to School, The Equalizer, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Psych. In 2004, he scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film for his film Most. Zabka has teased the possibility of a Cobra Kai trilogy of films following the end of the series.
Martin Kove as John Kreese
John Kreese is a Vietnam veteran who established the Cobra Kai dojo. His tough-as-nails approach attracted a number of students, including a young Johnny Lawrence, but his mental instability and violent streak eventually alienated everyone, and he closed the dojo in disgrace. After he learned Johnny had revived Cobra Kai, he convinced Johnny to give him a second chance, which turned out to be a huge mistake.
Martin Kove starred in dozens of TV shows and films in the 1970s and 1980s, including Cagney & Lacey, Death Race 2000, and Rambo: First Blood Part II. He holds black belts in three different martial art disciplines.
Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
Amanda is Daniel's wife and didn't quite understand the depth of the rivalry between him and Johnny, until Cobra Kai was revived, and their daughter Samantha was pulled into the conflict. While she tried to play peacemaker initially, John Kreese's tactics changed her approach.
Courtney Henggeler made her acting debut in the 2003 film The Bog Creatures but became instantly recognizable as Missy Cooper, Sheldon's sister on The Big Bang Theory.
Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
Samantha LaRusso is Daniel's daughter, and when she was young, shared his love for karate, but she outgrew it. She began dating Miguel Diaz, but kept the relationship a secret from her father because he was a member of Cobra Kai. They eventually broke up, and she began a relationship with Robbie Keene. When the resulting love triangle caused friction between all involved, Sam took up karate once again and soon found herself in the midst of some big fights between the warring dojos.
Despite her young age, Mary Mouser has appeared in a number of roles, including an appearance in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and is even a voice actor.
Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
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Miguel Diaz lived in Johnny's apartment complex and became Johnny's first student in the newly-revived Cobra Kai dojo. Johnny's training helped him overcome being bullied, and as a member of Cobra Kai, he won the All-Valley Karate Tournament. He has an on-again, off-again relationship with Samantha LaRusso, which causes his faith in the Cobra Kai method to waver. He was severely injured in a school brawl with Robby Keene, but eventually worked his way back to health.
Xolo Maridueña played Victor Graham in the TV series Parenthood and is the lead in the DC film Blue Beetle.
Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
Robby Keene is Johnny's estranged son, and while he resisted his father's attempts to reconcile, he bonded with the LaRussos and even got a job at Daniel's car dealership. Robby didn't tell Daniel that he is Johnny's son, and he began dating Sam. Daniel trained Robby in the ways of Miyagi-Do but ended their relationship when he learned he was Johnny's son. He joined the All-Valley tournament as an unaffiliated participant and reconciled with Daniel. He lost the tournament to Miguel, and their rivalry boiled over into an all-out brawl at school, and he was arrested for assault. After his release, he was taken in by John Kreese, who became his sensei. Robby then became Kreese's pawn against Johnny and Daniel.
Tanner Buchanan appeared in ABC's Designated Survivor as Leo Kirkman, son of President Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland). The Lima, Ohio native had his first acting role as an extra in a 2010 episode of Modern Family.
Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
Chozen Toguchi is Daniel's former enemy, as seen in The Karate Kid Part II. Despite losing their near "fight to the death," Chozen took the experience as an opportunity to better himself. When he learned Daniel had returned to Okinawa over thirty years later, he met with Daniel and was able to teach him things Mr. Miyagi never did.
Yuji Okumoto made his feature film debut in 1985's Real Genius. His other film credits include Inception, Murder She Wrote, and Pearl Harbor.
Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver
Terry Silver is John Kreese's old war buddy and a co-founder of Cobra Kai. In The Karate Kid Part III, he became part of Kreese's plan of revenge against Daniel. He later distanced himself from Kreese but reunited with him with plans to launch a hostile takeover for leadership of the dojo for himself. Terry Silver was the main villain in seasons four and five.
Thomas Ian Griffith initially turned down several offers to appear in Cobra Kai, as he had retired from acting. After meeting with producers, he was pleased with how the show would handle his character, and he joined the cast for season four.
Peyton List as Tory Nichols
Tory Nichols is a troubled teen who, despite her personal issues, worked hard to provide for her brother and sick mother. She joined Cobra Kai and quickly became a leader among the students and a capable fighter. Her feelings for Miguel put her at odds with Samantha, and Tory's resentment towards her built up and eventually boiled over. Later, she and Robby began dating.
Peyton List played Emma Ross on the TV series Bunk'd, and also appeared in Valley Girl and the series School Spirits.
Jacob Bertrand as Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz
Eli Moskowitz is one of Miguel's longtime friends and is self-conscious about his facial scar from cleft palate surgery. He joined Cobra Kai to gain confidence, and it worked. He created a new persona for himself, "Hawk," complete with a mohawk haircut. His training took him to a dark place, however, and when John Kreese's tactics go too far, he left Cobra Kai and joined Miyagi-Do's dojo.
Jacob Bertrand has been acting since he was seven years old. His other acting credits include Rise of the Guardians, Kirby Buckets, Ready Player One, and he is the voice of the Batmobile on the animated series Batwheels.
Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri Alexopoulos
Miguel's friend Demetri Alexopoulos hoped to shake off his insecure nerd image by learning karate. A talkative neurotic who is a bit too sensitive about everything, Demetri was kicked out of Cobra Kai's dojo by John Kreese, so he joined Miyagi-Do instead. Gianni DeCenzo has appeared in over a dozen TV and film projects over the last decade. His role as Demetri on Cobra Kai is his breakout role.
Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
Carmen Diaz is Miguel's mother, and she is highly protective of her son. Although she was initially wary of Johnny teaching her son karate, she warmed up to him when she saw the positive effect he had on Miguel. After Miguel was seriously injured, Johnny stepped up to help rehabilitate him. The experience brought Carmen and Johnny closer together, and they eventually started dating.
In addition to Cobra Kai, Vanessa Rubio has had notable roles including starring as Nagaina on Netflix's The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Nichole Brown as Aisha Robinson
Aisha Robinson, Samantha's longtime friend, was often bullied at school and joined Cobra Kai as a way to defend herself. She befriended Sam's Cobra Kai rival Tory, a decision that didn't sit well with Sam. Their relationship was strained further when Sam began hanging out with girls who made fun of Aisha.
Cobra Kai marked Nichole Brown's acting debut, and she quickly became a fan-favorite character. She has also appeared in an episode of Raven's Home.
Paul Walter Hauser as Raymond "Stingray" Porter
Man-child Raymond Porter has too much time and too much money on his hands. He joined Cobra Kai in order to toughen up and find some friends. Even though he is much older than the teenagers he is hanging out with, he knows how to throw a party, which they appreciate. When Terry Silver returned to Cobra Kai, he used Raymond (who now goes by "Stingray") in his scheme to take over the leadership of the dojo from Kreese.
Paul Walter Hauser has turned in some fantastic film performances in recent years, including the lead role in Clint Eastwood's Richard Jewell and a memorable role in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman.
Randee Heller as Lucille LaRusso
Lucille Larusso is Daniel's long-suffering mother, who often comes to visit the family. The strong-willed Lucille often finds herself in disagreement with Daniel's wife Amanda, but her love for her family is unmistakable. Randee Heller's career dates back to the late 1970s, and her distinguished resume includes roles in some notable films and series, including Bulworth, Judging Amy, Mad Men, and Grey's Anatomy.
Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
Anthony LaRusso is Daniel's pampered son. He would rather play games on his iPad than spend time in a dojo. Daniel had to step in and adjust his attitude, however, when he discovered Anthony and his friends were bullying a new kid. Griffin Santopietro made his acting debut in 2016's Homicide Hunter. He has also appeared in episodes of Bull and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes
Mike Barnes is a former Cobra Kai member who, under Terry Silver's instruction, terrorized Daniel in The Karate Kid Part III. When Silver returned in Cobra Kai, Daniel suspected Mike may be involved with him as well, only to find Mike was living a very different life.
Sean Kanan has starred in over 850 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful as Deacon Sharpe. He also appeared in extended roles on General Hospital and The Young and the Restless. He is one of no less than a dozen Cobra Kai actors who reprised their roles from the films.
Tamlyn Tomita as Kumiko
In The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel met Kumiko when he visited Tomi Village in Okinawa with Mr. Miyagi, and the two have a brief romance. Years later, Daniel meets her again when he visits Okinawa, and she proves pivotal in helping him save his business.
The Karate Kid Part II marked the feature film debut for Tamlyn Tomita, and she went on to have an extensive career in TV and film. Her appearances include Star Trek: Picard, 24, The Burning Zone, Babylon 5, Monk, Heroes, General Hospital, The Good Doctor, and Teen Wolf.
Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills
Ali Mills dated Johnny in high school, but their relationship was on the rocks when Daniel moved into town. She and Daniel began dating, even though she was rich, and he was working class. After they graduated from high school, however, they drifted apart and broke up. After she and Johnny reconnect online, she comes into town for a visit, and old feelings are reignited.
Elisabeth Shue starred in some of the biggest hits of the 1980s, including Cocktail, Adventures in Babysitting, and the Back to the Future sequels. She earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for 1995's Leaving Las Vegas.
Robyn Lively as Jessica Andrews
Jessica was Daniel's love interest in The Karate Kid Part III, and we learn in Cobra Kai that after she moved away, she introduced Daniel to her cousin Amanda, who became his wife. Robyn Lively had a memorable role on David Lynch's Twin Peaks. Her film and TV credits include Teen Witch, Doogie Howser, M.D., Savannah, Letters to God, and 911: Lone Star.
Ed Asner as Sid Weinberg
Sid Weinberg is Johnny's mean, ornery stepfather, who thought money was a substitute for affection. He gave Johnny money in an attempt to get him out of his life, and Johnny used it to get the Cobra Kai dojo started. Ed Asner was a seven-time Emmy winner who starred in such TV classics as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant, and Roots. He also starred in the films Up and Elf. He passed away on August 29, 2021, at the age of 91.
Rob Garrison as Tommy
Tommy was one of the original Cobra Kai members along with Johnny and reentered his life when Johnny learned he was losing his cancer battle. After spending a day with Johnny and his former Cobra Kai comrades, he died that night in his sleep.
In addition to The Karate Kid, Rob Garrison appeared in Prom Night, Iron Eagle, and Coach. Garrison was suffering from cancer in real life, and his sickness was written into his character's storyline. He lost his battle with cancer on September 27, 2019, less than six months after the episode he appeared in ("Take a Right") was released. He was 59 years old.
Ron Thomas as Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown is a former member of Cobra Kai whose opinion of John Kreese soured after the All-Valley Tournament. He later became a pastor of a church and encouraged his former Cobra Kai members to talk the straight and narrow path. Ron Thomas was actually a martial arts student and won the 1994 World Jujitsu Championship. He later opened a jujitsu academy in Northridge, California.
Tony O'Dell as Jimmy
Jimmy is a former member of Cobra Kai who joined Johnny when he took Tommy out to spend time with his friends. He lives a quiet life with a wife and two kids. Tony O'Dell is best known for his role as Alan Pinkard on Head of the Class. He also appeared on Airwolf and Chopping Mall.
Traci Toguchi as Yuna
In The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel saves Yuna's life when a typhoon hits Tomi Village in Okinawa, and she is trapped in the village bell tower. In Cobra Kai, Yuna is able to repay the favor, as she turns out to be the key to saving Daniel's car dealership.
Following her appearance in The Karate Kid Part II, Traci Toguchi became Miss Hawaii in 1995. Among her acting roles are appearances in Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum P.I., and the film Supergator.
Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi
Mr. Miyagi was a karate master and World War II veteran living a quiet life when he first met Daniel and taught him martial arts. Although he has already died when Cobra Kai begins, his presence looms large throughout the series, as his lessons continue to teach Daniel and the young students of the new Miyagi-Do dojo.
Pat Morita was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984 for his role as Miyagi in The Karate Kid. He is well-known for his role as Arnold on the classic sitcom Happy Days. His other roles included Disney's Mulan, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Baywatch, with numerous guest-starring roles in television. He passed away on November 24, 2005, from kidney failure. He was 73 years old.