It has been four decades since "The Karate Kid" first debuted in 1984, introducing audiences to Daniel LaRusso and his wise mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The film, a surprise hit that grossed over $130 million worldwide against an $8 million budget, spawned sequels and, decades later, the popular series "Cobra Kai." The cast members have since experienced diverse paths.
Ralph Macchio, who portrayed the determined Daniel LaRusso, has maintained a consistent presence in Hollywood. He reprised his role in the "Cobra Kai" series, which ran from 2018 to 2025, and appeared in the 2025 film "Karate Kid: Legends." In November 2024, Macchio received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, placed near that of his late co-star Pat Morita. He has been married to Phyllis Fierro since 1987, and they have two children, Julia and Daniel.
Pat Morita, beloved as the calm and wise Mr. Miyagi, was already an established actor, known for his role as Arnold on the sitcom "Happy Days." His performance in "The Karate Kid" earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Morita reprised his role in subsequent sequels and also starred in "The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo." He passed away in 2005 at the age of 73 due to kidney failure. The character of Mr. Miyagi has been frequently honored in "Cobra Kai."
William Zabka, who played the antagonist Johnny Lawrence, had no prior karate experience when he auditioned for the role. After "The Karate Kid," he appeared in films like "National Lampoon's European Vacation" and "Back to School." Zabka also earned an Oscar nomination in 2004 for co-writing and producing the short film "Most." His career experienced a significant resurgence with his return as Johnny Lawrence in "Cobra Kai," a role that allowed for a more nuanced portrayal of the character. Zabka has been married to Stacie since 2008 and has three children.
Elisabeth Shue, who played Daniel's love interest Ali Mills, became one of the most prominent stars to emerge from the film. She starred in major films such as "Cocktail" alongside Tom Cruise and the "Back to the Future" sequels. Her performance in "Leaving Las Vegas" earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Shue later completed her degree at Harvard University and has appeared in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "The Boys," and "Greyhound." She returned to the "Karate Kid" universe as Ali in "Cobra Kai" in 2021. Shue has been married to filmmaker Davis Guggenheim since 1994.
Martin Kove, who embodied the menacing sensei John Kreese, also appeared in the original film's sequels. Beyond "The Karate Kid," Kove starred in the police drama "Cagney & Lacey" and had a role in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." He reprised his role as Kreese in "Cobra Kai," where the character was given a more complex backstory. Kove competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2021. He has twins, Rachael and Jesse.
Thomas Ian Griffith made his film debut as the villainous Terry Silver in "The Karate Kid Part III." Griffith, who acknowledged the film was not critically acclaimed, reprised his role in "Cobra Kai" decades later, with the character developed into a more formidable antagonist. Griffith is 64.
Sean Kanan played Mike Barnes, a ruthless fighter in "The Karate Kid Part III." Kanan later developed a career in television soaps, appearing in "General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless." He also returned as Barnes in "Cobra Kai," portraying a different life for the character.
Robyn Lively portrayed Jessica Andrews in "The Karate Kid Part III." She later reprised her role in "Cobra Kai," where Jessica was revealed to be Daniel's cousin-in-law. Lively's younger sister is actress Blake Lively.
Randee Heller played Daniel's mother, Lucille LaRusso, in the original film and "Part III." Heller had a notable role in the sitcom "Soap" and received an Emmy nomination for her performance in "Mad Men." She also returned to the "Karate Kid" universe in "Cobra Kai."
Chad McQueen, son of actor Steve McQueen, played one of Johnny Lawrence's sidekicks, Dutch, in the first two "Karate Kid" films. He survived a near-fatal crash in 2006 while training for the 24 Hours of Daytona and later founded McQueen Racing. Chad McQueen passed away in September 2024 at the age of 63. His son, Steven R McQueen, is also an actor.
Tony O'Dell, who played Jimmy in the original "Karate Kid" and its sequel, later had a major role in the sitcom "Head of the Class." He transitioned to working behind the camera as an acting and dialogue coach, returning as Jimmy in "Cobra Kai" in 2019.
Rob Garrison, who played the Cobra Kai bully Tommy, known for the line "put him in a body bag," also appeared in "Iron Eagle" and various television series. He made a guest appearance in "Cobra Kai" in 2019 but passed away later that year at the age of 59 from liver and kidney failure. "Cobra Kai" paid tribute to his memory.
Ron Thomas portrayed Bobby Brown, a Cobra Kai student who showed remorse in the original film and its sequel. Thomas stepped away from acting to become a martial artist and motivational speaker, now offering online mindfulness classes. He returned as Bobby in "Cobra Kai."