Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence rekindled their feud more than three decades after the events of The Karate Kid, and their children joined the struggle against both old and new foes. That is the basis of Cobra Kai, the popular Netflix series that reunites the Karate Kid movie cast. Almost 5 million people watched the series on its first day of release on YouTube Red on May 2, 2018, making it an unexpected hit. Following two seasons, the show was transferred to Netflix, where it quickly rose to fame and became one of the most popular programmes available. After six seasons, the television show will come to a conclusion, and a feature film will follow.
Fans of the original films applaud the series for embracing its source material and for being nominated for eight Primetime Emmys. The series relies significantly on repeating old storylines that were both nostalgic and initially enjoyable. It is a true sequel, not a soft reboot. Cobra Kai does not “transfer the torch” from an older generation of actors to a younger one, unlike other revivals. Instead, Daniel and Johnny, two of the original protagonists, take the primary roles, with their offspring having interesting independent plots.
The main characters in Cobra Kai are broken down below, along with the actors who play them.
Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
Until Cobra Kai was reactivated and their daughter Samantha was drawn into the fight, Amanda, Daniel’s wife, didn’t fully comprehend the intensity of the enmity between him and Johnny. She originally sought to be the mediator, but John Kreese’s strategies made her adopt a different stance.
Despite making her acting debut in the 2003 film The Bog Monsters, Courtney Henggeler is most known for playing Missy Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.
Ed Asner as Sid Weinberg
Sid Weinberg is Johnny’s cruel, obnoxious stepfather who believed that money could replace love. He attempted to remove Johnny from his life by giving him money, which Johnny then used to launch the Cobra Kai dojo. Seven-time Emmy winner Ed Asner played iconic roles in shows like Lou Grant, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Roots. He appeared in the films Elf and Up as well. At the age of 91, he passed away on August 29, 2021.
Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills
In high school, Ali Mills dated Johnny, but things fell apart when Daniel moved to the area. Despite the fact that she was wealthy and Daniel was from the working class, they started dating. But they drifted away and split up after they received their high school diplomas. As she visits the town after finding Johnny online, previous feelings are rekindled.
Cocktail, Adventures in Babysitting, and the Back to the Future sequels all had Elisabeth Shue as the lead. These films were among the biggest successes of the 1980s. For the 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas, she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri Alexopoulos
Demetri Alexopoulos, a buddy of Miguel’s, intended to use karate training to shed his self-conscious nerd image. Demetri, a talkative neurotic who is a little too sensitive about everything, joined Miyagi-Do after John Kreese expelled him from Cobra Kai’s dojo. Throughout the past ten years, Gianni DeCenzo has participated in over a dozen TV and cinema productions. His breakthrough performance was on Cobra Kai as Demetri.
Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
The spoiled son of Daniel LaRusso is Anthony. He’d rather spend time playing games on his iPad than practising martial arts. But when Daniel saw Anthony and his pals picking on a new youngster, he had to intervene and change his attitude. Homicide Hunter from 2016 was Griffin Santopietro’s acting debut. Also, he has made guest appearances in Bull and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt episodes.
Jacob Bertrand as Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz
One of Miguel’s lifelong pals, Eli Moskowitz, is self-conscious of his face scar from cleft palate surgery. To boost his confidence, he joined Cobra Kai, and it was a success. He gave himself a new name: “Hawk,” and gave himself a mohawk haircut. However, his training had led him to a dark place, and when John Kreese’s strategies became unreasonable, he left Cobra Kai and enrolled in Miyagi-dojo. Do’s
Since he was seven years old, Jacob Bertrand has been performing in plays. He also voiced the Batmobile in the animated series Batwheels. His other acting performances include Rise of the Guardians, Kirby Buckets, Ready Player One, and Rise of the Guardians.
Martin Kove as John Kreese
Veteran of the Vietnam War John Kreese founded the Cobra Kai dojo. Several pupils, including a teenage Johnny Lawrence, were drawn to his tough-as-nails teaching style, but his mental instability and aggressive tendencies ultimately alienated everyone, and he closed the dojo in disgrace. He persuaded Johnny to give him another chance after finding out that Johnny had revived Cobra Kai, which proved to be a grave error.
Martin Kove, who has black belts in three different martial art styles, appeared in numerous TV shows and films in the 1970s and 1980s, such as Cagney & Lacey, Death Race 2000, and Rambo: First Blood Part II.
Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
Samantha LaRusso, Daniel’s daughter, formerly shared his passion for karate but outgrew it as she grew older. She started dating Miguel Diaz, but she didn’t tell her father about it because he belonged to Cobra Kai. As they eventually split up, she started dating Robbie Keene. Sam picked up karate again after the ensuing love triangle led to conflict between all parties, and she quickly found herself in the middle of significant battles between the rival dojos.
Mary Mouser has played a variety of roles despite her young age, including one in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. She is also a voice actress.
Nichole Brown as Aisha Robinson
Samantha’s longtime friend Aisha Robinson joined Cobra Kai to defend herself after becoming a target of bullying at school. She became friends with Tory, a Cobra Kai foe of Sam’s, which annoyed Sam. When Sam started spending time with ladies who made fun of Aisha, their relationship became even more strained.
Nichole Brown made her acting debut in Cobra Kai, where she soon gained popularity as a favourite character. She has additionally appeared in a Raven’s Home episode.
Paul Walter Hauser as Raymond “Stingray” Porter
Raymond Porter, a man-child, has too much time and money on his hands. He joined Cobra Kai to become more resilient and make some new pals. He is much older than the teens he is hanging out with, but they respect the fact that he understands how to throw a party. When Terry Silver rejoined Cobra Kai, he employed Raymond (who is now known as “Stingray”) in his plan to unseat Kreese as the dojo’s commander.
Recent years have seen Paul Walter Hauser provide some incredible performances in films, including the lead in Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell and a standout part in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman.
Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi
When he initially met Daniel and began instructing him in martial arts, Mr Miyagi was a karate expert and World War II veteran leading a tranquil life. While he is already dead before Cobra Kai starts, his influence is felt heavily throughout the entire series as Daniel and the younger members of the new Miyagi-Do dojo continue to learn from his lessons.
In 1984, Pat Morita’s performance as Miyagi in The Karate Kid earned him a nomination for an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actor. He gained notoriety for playing Arnold in the venerable sitcom Happy Days. His other parts included those in Baywatch, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Disney’s Mulan, in addition to countless television guest roles. On November 24, 2005, he passed away from kidney failure. Age-wise, he was 73.
Peyton List as Tory Nichols
Tory Nichols is a troubled kid who put in a lot of effort to support her brother and her ailing mother despite her personal struggles. She joined Cobra Kai and soon rose to prominence among the students as a leader and skilled combatant. She was at odds with Samantha because of her affections for Miguel, and Tory’s animosity of her grew until it erupted. She and Robby afterwards started dating.
Peyton List portrayed Emma Ross in the TV show Bunk’d. She also made appearances in the films Valley Girl and School Spirits.
Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
Daniel LaRusso capitalised on his status as a champion to establish a prosperous network of car dealerships more than thirty years after winning the All-Valley Karate Championship. Daniel was leading a happy life with a wife and two children up until he ran upon Johnny Lawrence once more. He brought up Miyagi-Do Karate after finding out that Johnny had restarted Cobra Kai, providing a nonviolent contrast to Johnny’s violent methods. The demons of his past soon reappeared, and he soon understood that Johnny is the least of his issues. Even though Daniel had absorbed a lot of Mr. Miyagi’s advice, he was occasionally stubborn and arrogant, which made things difficult for him.
Ralph Macchio first gained notoriety in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders in 1983, but the Karate Kid films catapulted him into one of the decade’s biggest stars. He starred in My Cousin Vinny in 1992, and Cobra Kai has played a significant role in his professional resurgence. He recently made appearances on Psych, The Deuce, and How I Met Your Mother. On Cobra Kai, Macchio is an executive producer.
Randee Heller as Lucille LaRusso
Daniel’s patient mother, Lucille Larusso, frequently visits the family. Although the independent Lucille frequently disagrees with Amanda, Daniel’s wife, it is clear that she adores her family. The late 1970s marked the beginning of Randee Heller’s career, and her impressive record includes parts in a number of well-known films and television shows, including Bulworth, Judging Amy, Mad Men, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Rob Garrison as Tommy
Along with Johnny, Tommy was a founding member of Cobra Kai. When Johnny discovered that his battle with illness was ending, Tommy reentered his life. He spent the day with Johnny and his former Cobra Kai teammates before passing away in his sleep that night.
Rob Garrison made appearances in Coach, Prom Night, and Iron Eagle in addition to The Karate Kid. Garrison had cancer in real life, and the plot of his character reflected this condition. Less than six months after the airing of the episode he starred in (“Take a Right”), he lost the battle with cancer on September 27, 2019. Age-wise, he was 59.
Robyn Lively as Jessica Andrews
In The Karate Kid Part III, Jessica was Daniel’s love interest. In Cobra Kai, we find that when she moved away, Jessica introduced Daniel to her cousin Amanda, who later became his wife. Twin Peaks by David Lynch featured Robyn Lively in a standout performance. Her roles in Teen Witch, Doogie Howser, M.D., Savannah, Letters to God, and 911: Lone Star are among her film and television credits.
Ron Thomas as Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown, a former Cobra Kai member, lost respect for John Kreese following the All-Valley Tournament. Afterwards, he was called to be a preacher, and he exhorted the Cobra Kai members to stay on the straight and narrow. Ron Thomas, who won the 1994 World Jujitsu Championship, was actually a martial arts student. In the future, he established a jujitsu school in Northridge, California.
Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes
When Terry Silver returned to Cobra Kai, Daniel assumed Mike may be affiliated with him as well, but was shocked to discover Mike was leading a radically different life. Mike Barnes is a former member of Cobra Kai who frightened Daniel in The Karate Kid Part III while being taught by Terry Silver.
Deacon Sharpe has been played by Sean Kanan in more than 850 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful. Also, he made lengthy appearances on The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. He is one of at least a dozen Cobra Kai performers who took on roles they originally played in the movies.
Tamlyn Tomita as Kumiko
Daniel and Kumiko share a brief affair in The Karate Kid Part II after they first met when Daniel and Mr. Miyagi travelled to Tomi Village in Okinawa. Years later, Daniel runs into her again while visiting Okinawa, and she plays a crucial role in aiding him in saving his company.
Tamlyn Tomita made her feature film debut in The Karate Kid Part II, and she went on to have a long career in both TV and movies. Among of the shows in which she has appeared are Star Trek: Picard, 24, The Burning Zone, Babylon 5, Monk, Heroes, General Hospital, The Good Doctor, and Teen Wolf.
Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
When Robby Keene, Johnny’s estranged son, resisted his father’s efforts to mend fences, he grew close to the LaRussos and even landed a job at Daniel’s car lot. Robby started dating Sam without telling Daniel that he is Johnny’s son. When Daniel discovered Robby was Johnny’s kid, he broke up their training in Miyagi-Do and cut off communication. He made up with Daniel and entered the All-Valley competition as an independent player. He was arrested for assault after Miguel defeated him in the tournament and their animosity turned violent at school. John Kreese, who later became his sensei, took him in after his release. Then Kreese used Robby as a pawn in his battle with Johnny and Daniel.
Tanner Buchanan played President Tom Kirkman’s son Leo Kirkman in the ABC television series Designated Survivor (Kiefer Sutherland). The native of Lima, Ohio, appeared as an extra in a Modern Family episode in 2010.
Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver
Terry Silver, a Cobra Kai co-founder and an old friend from the war, is John Kreese. He joined Kreese’s plot to exact revenge on Daniel in The Karate Kid, Part III. Later, he cut ties with Kreese, but they eventually reconnected with the intention of staging a hostile takeover to seize control of the dojo for himself. In seasons four and five, Terry Silver served as the major antagonist.
Since he had quit acting, Thomas Ian Griffith first declined a number of opportunities to star in Cobra Kai. He joined the cast for season four after meeting with the producers and being satisfied with how the show will approach his character.
Tony O’Dell as Jimmy
Jimmy joined Johnny when Tommy was taken out to hang out with Johnny’s friends. Jimmy was formerly a member of Cobra Kai. He has a wife and two children and has a tranquil life. On Top of the Class, Tony O’Dell is best known for playing Alan Pinkard. Also, he was seen on Airwolf and Chopping Mall.
Traci Toguchi as Yuna
When a typhoon strikes Tomi Village in Okinawa and Yuna is stranded in the community bell tower, Daniel saves Yuna’s life in The Karate Kid Part II. Yuna is able to pay it forward in Cobra Kai since she ends up being crucial in preserving Daniel’s auto dealership.
Traci Toguchi gained notoriety after The Karate Kid Part II after which she was crowned Miss Hawaii. Her acting credits include roles in the TV shows Hawaii 5-0, Magnum P.I., and the movie Supergator.
Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
Miguel’s mother, Carmen Diaz, is fiercely devoted to her son. She was hesitant to let Johnny teach her son karate at first, but she warmed to him after observing the great impact he had on Miguel. After Miguel suffered a catastrophic injury, Johnny offered to assist with his recovery. Carmen and Johnny grew closer as a result of the tragedy, and they eventually began dating.
Together with Cobra Kai, Vanessa Rubio is known for playing the part of Nagaina in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix.
William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
With a ruined marriage, a son who won’t talk to him, and a tournament loss to Daniel, Johnny Lawrence has led an aimless life. After stopping Miguel Diaz from being assaulted, Johnny was motivated to start instructing the Cobra Kai style of karate and established a dojo to do so. Daniel was initially opposed to Johnny bringing back Cobra Kai, but when Johnny changed his mind and bigger villains appeared, the two forged a tense alliance. Johnny is a stubborn, politically incorrect, and opinionated analogue man living in a digital world who has no time for the sloth and sensitivity of today’s youngsters. His attitude frequently thwarts his efforts to make amends with his son Robby.
William Zabka played Johnny in The Karate Kid, his debut role in a major film, in 1984. He also starred in Back to School, The Equalizer, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Psych, among other films and television shows. With his film Most, which he produced in 2004, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. Following the conclusion of the series, Zabka has hinted at the possibility of a Cobra Kai trilogy of films.
Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
Miguel Diaz, who resided in Johnny’s flat building, was Johnny’s first pupil at the Cobra Kai dojo when it first started up again. Because of his training, Johnny was able to stop being bullied, and he also joined Cobra Kai, which helped him win the All-Valley Karate Competition. Sam LaRusso and him have an on-again, off-again relationship, which makes him doubt the Cobra Kai system. He and Robby Keene got into a fight at school that left him seriously hurt, but he finally recovered.
Victor Graham was portrayed by Xolo Maridue in the TV series Parenthood, and he also plays the lead in the DC movie Blue Beetle.
Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
In The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel’s former adversary Chozen Toguchi appears. Despite losing their nearly fatal “fight to the death,” Chozen used the chance to better himself. He met Daniel when he returned to Okinawa after more than thirty years and was able to teach him things that Mr. Miyagi never did.
In 1985’s True Genius, Yuji Okumoto made his feature film debut. Pearl Harbor, Murder She Wrote, and Inception are some of his other filmography credits.
