Karate Kid Cast: Where Are They Now?

Karate Kid Cast: Where Are They Now?

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be exploring the careers of the major cast members from the first “Karate Kid” movie.

Tony O’Dell

“Jimmy”

Tony O’Dell enjoyed a fairly fruitful career on TV prior to appearing as Cobra Kai member Jimmy in “The Karate Kid.” The actor enjoyed a recurring role as Alan on the ‘80s sitcom “Head of the Class” and also chalked up appearances on shows like “Airwolf” and “Kids Incorporated.” O’Dell also showed up in a number of cult horror movies, most notably “Evils of the Night” and “Killbots,” better known under its more memorable title, “Chopping Mall.” He continues making the odd television walk-on to this day, including the reprisal of his role on “Cobra Kai.”

Ron Thomas

“Bobby Brown”

The actors who portrayed Johnny Lawrence’s Cobra Kai classmates reprised their roles in “The Karate Kid Part II” and “Cobra Kai,” but not all of them made a lot of appearances in movies and TV after their brief flirtation with fame. Ron Thomas received his big break with “The Karate Kid,” but only appeared in a couple of movies afterwards. Thomas, like Tony O’Dell, worked on a horror movie, 1987’s “Night Screams,” as well as a sex comedy titled “The Big Bet.” The actor also eventually became a real sensei. Other notable appearances include the aforementioned “Cobra Kai,” as well as an episode of “Tosh.O.”

Randee Heller

“Lucille Larusso”

Randee Heller already had a number of film and television credits prior to nabbing the role of Daniel’s mom, Lucille Lacrusso, on “The Karate Kid.” She had broken down barriers on the 1970s sitcom “Soap,” appearing as one of the medium’s first lesbian characters. Heller also worked in the theater, performing in dramas and musicals to much critical acclaim. She continued to act after her ‘80s success, as well, doing tons of walk-on TV work, as well as securing a recurring role on “Mad Men” as Don Draper’s secretary, Ida Blankenship.

Larry B. Scott

“Jerry”

Larry B. Scott may have only had a small role in “The Karate Kid” as Jerry, but it’s highly likely that audiences watching in the 1980s knew the actor from another famous franchise: “Revenge of the Nerds.” Scott played the supremely memorable Lamar Latrell in those films, but the actor was also very busy performing in many other productions throughout that decade and right to the modern day. Larry B. Scott may not have been a major character in “The Karate Kid,” but he was a huge presence for a generation of film fans. In addition to acting, he has worked as a director and producer as well.

Rob Garrison

“Tommy”

Rob Garrison’s emotional send-off on “Cobra Kai” sadly mirrored the real life loss of the actor in 2019. However, the touching sequence proved to audiences just how powerful minor characters can be, when their stories are treated with respect. Garrison was a steady and dependable TV man throughout his acting career, appearing on shows like “MacGyver” and “St. Elsewhere,” but the actor also showed up in some cult classics, as well. Garrison was featured in the disco-slasher “Prom Night” as well as one of Johnny Lawrence’s favorite films, “Iron Eagle.” He did some local theater after retiring from acting, but it was his return in “Cobra Kai” that served as a near-perfect coda for Rob Garrison’s career.

William Zabka

“Johnny Lawrence”

William Zabka never really stopped working after appearing as Johnny Lawrence in “The Karate Kid.” The actor spent his time learning martial arts in the wake of his big success and appeared in more martial arts-focused films in the ‘80s and ‘90s such as the “Shootfighter” series. Zabka also appeared in comedies like “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” and expanded his craft into the world of directing and producing. “Cobra Kai” may have increased William Zabka’s profile in the modern day, but the man has been a fixture on movies and TV shows, large and small, and this doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon.

Martin Kove

“John Kreese”

Martin Kove actually co-starred with William Zabka in one of the aforementioned “Shootfighter” films, but if you think that’s the long and short of Kove’s filmography, then think again. The man has chalked up over 200 credits on IMDB at the time of this writing, with Kove’s work dating all the way back to the 1970s. He’s appeared on nearly every television show you can think of and has shown up in everything from exploitation horror like “The Last House on the Left,” blockbusters like “Rambo: First Blood Part II” and cult classics like “Death Race 2000.” Kove has also done soap opera work, A-flick work, B-movie work…the man just likes to work, and it shows.

Elizabeth Shue

“Ali Mills”

Elizabeth Shue is perhaps one of the most successful alumni from “The Karate Kid,” having not only enjoyed a fruitful career in the ‘80s, but having parlayed that success into major award nominations and critical acclaim. Specifically, it was her dramatic turn in “Leaving Las Vegas'' alongside Nicolas Cage that earned Shue attention from the Oscars and Golden Globes, but she didn’t stop there. She balanced genre fare like “The Boys'' and “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation” with comedic work on Netflix’s “On the Verge.” Oh, and did we mention she was in “Back to the Future Part II” and “Adventures in Babysitting,” as well? Elizabeth Shue has enjoyed one hell of a career.

Pat Morita

“Mr. Miyagi”

Pat Morita may not have enjoyed the sort of crossover success into films that some of his other “Karate Kid” co-stars did, but the actor more than made up for this by being an absolute TV mainstay. Morita was already well-known to audiences prior to introducing “Mr. Miyagi” to the world, thanks to well-regarded work on “Happy Days” and “M*A*S*H.” Morita would reprise caricatures of his Miyagi character in various commercials, and he also did voice-acting work for films like “Mulan,” but the man unfortunately battled alcoholism throughout his life. It was this disease which would ultimately contribute to his death in 2005, from kidney failure.

Ralph Macchio

“Daniel LaRusso”

Ralph Macchio may have broken through into the mainstream with “The Karate Kid,” but the writing was already on the wall back in the early eighties, thanks to another memorable Macchio performance in “The Outsiders.” The actor had another hit with “My Cousin Vinny” in 1992, and he even played himself on the HBO series “Entourage,” being unafraid to comment on his “Karate Kid” legacy. More recently, Macchio appeared on another HBO series, “The Deuce,” but it’s been “Cobra Kai” that perhaps evokes the warmest and fuzziest feelings inside Ralph Macchio’s fans. After all, sometimes it’s nice to come home again.


Are you a fan of the franchise? Have you followed any of these actors’ careers? Let us know in the comments!