'Cobra Kai' Season 5 Cast List: From Ralph Macchio to Mary Mouser, here's who plays who on the Netflix show
Netflix's 'Cobra Kai' is currently one of the most discussed shows in the action comedy genre. The series was created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, and is distributed by Sony Pictures Television. It stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, who reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from the 1984 film 'The Karate Kid' and its sequels, 'The Karate Kid Part II' of 1986, and 'The Karate Kid Part III,' which released in 1989. Set 34 years later, 'Cobra Kai' continues the original 'Karate Kid' saga, last seen in 'The Next Karate Kid' in 1994. In particular, it re-examines the 'Miyagi-Verse' narrative from Johnny's point of view, his decision to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo, and the rekindling of his old rivalry with Daniel.
'Cobra Kai' also stars Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Mariduena, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, and Dallas Dupree Young, with Martin Kove and Thomas Ian Griffith also reprising their roles from the films. Season 5 of the show is releasing on September 9, 2022, only on Netflix. Read on to know more about the cast members of the stellar show.
RELATED ARTICLES
'Cobra Kai' on Netflix: When does 'Cobra Kai' Season 5 release and where can you watch it?
'Me Time' on Netflix: Craving for some solitude? Kevin is here to mend your 'Hart'
Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
34 years after the first film, Daniel is happily married to his wife Amanda and has two children, Samantha and Anthony. Johnny's estranged son Robby Keene gets a job at LaRusso Auto Group to get back at his father for neglecting him in favor of Miguel. Unaware that Robby is Johnny's son, Daniel takes him in as his karate student after Louie's antics inadvertently lead Robby to visit Daniel's house. Daniel decides to reconcile with Robby and coaches him for the duration of the final match. Robby loses a close fight to Miguel, who fights dishonorably by exploiting Robby's injury from the semi-final match. With teacher and student reconciled, Daniel plans to expand the Miyagi-Do style and philosophy with an official dojo to oppose Cobra Kai with Robby as his senior student.
Macchio also played Johnny Cade in 'The Outsiders,' Jeremy Andretti in 'Eight Is Enough,' Bill Gambini in 'My Cousin Vinny,' Eugene Martone in 'Crossroads,' and Archie Rodriguez in 'Ugly Betty,' and had a recurring role as Officer Haddix in 'The Deuce'.
William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
Now in his 50s, Johnny is a down-on-his-luck and alcoholic loner. He is estranged from his now-teenaged son Robby, who he had with his ex-girlfriend Shannon Keene when both were younger. He spends most of his time drinking beer and often resorting to bottles of whiskey when depressed. He struggles to make a living as a handyman in the San Fernando Valley but is fired from this job after getting into an argument with a customer and rejoins his friend and does martial arts for a living.
During the 1980s, Zabka appeared in the comedy movies 'Just One of the Guys' (1985) and 'Back to School' (1986). Zabka also co-starred on the CBS television series 'The Equalizer' as the son of the title character (1986–89). He also played Jack, Audrey's jock boyfriend, in National Lampoon's 'European Vacation' (1985). He later tried to step away from playing the class bully character. He mentioned in an interview how he was sometimes hassled in public by random people because of the villainous characters he was best known for.
Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
Amanda LaRusso is Daniel's wife and co-owner of LaRusso Auto Group, a chain of car dealerships. While she is fully supportive of her husband's return to karate, Amanda is instrumental in moderating her husband's animosity toward Johnny and encouraging at least the beginning of a reconciliation. Furthermore, she encourages Daniel to not only forgive his protege, Robby Keene, for hiding that he is Johnny's son but also become Robby's coach again during the All-Valley tournament.
Courtney Henggeler is also known for playing the adult version of Sheldon Cooper's twin sister, Missy, in 'The Big Bang Theory'.
Xolo Mariduena as Miguel Diaz
Miguel Diaz is a 16-year-old Ecuadorian American teenager who was born on November 22, 2002 in America to a single mother with asthma and low self-esteem who moves in next door to Johnny. While shopping for Pepto-Bismol for his grandmother at a strip mall in Reseda, he is attacked by a group of rich bullies led by Kyler after accidentally foiling their plans to buy beer. The bullies nickname him "Rhea" after noticing the bottle of Pepto-Bismol and dump it all over him. When the bullies shove him onto Johnny's car, Johnny attacks them, beating them senselessly before he is arrested. Miguel becomes Johnny's first student in the new Cobra Kai dojo. Though initially reluctant and mocking toward him, Johnny quickly comes to care for Miguel, becoming a father figure to him, despite objections from his mother.
Mariduena is also known for his role as Victor Graham in the NBC TV series 'Parenthood'. He will play Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle in the upcoming DC Extended Universe film Blue Beetle.
Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
Robby drops out of school when he gets in trouble for drugs, after which he and his friends Cruz and Trey spend their days engaged in petty theft, as seen when they are stealing laptops from Tech Town. Johnny tries to reconcile with him at the apartment he lives at with his single mother, but he rebuffs him. To spite his father for neglecting him in favor of Miguel, Robby begins working at LaRusso Auto Group.
Buchanan is best known for his roles as Leo Kirkman in the ABC political drama 'Designated Survivor,' and for his role in the Nickelodeon television series 'Game Shakers' as Mason Kendall.
Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
Samantha is Daniel and Amanda's 16-year-old daughter, who was taught karate by her father at a young age. She hangs out with the other rich, popular girls at her high school. Her relationship with her father is strained by his meddling in her friendships, but they reconcile after Sam sees Kyler bully Miguel's friend group and subsequently ends their relationship after he tries to grope her in a movie theater. When Kyler begins spreading rumors about her, Sam is left briefly friendless, with Yasmine, Moon, and Aisha refusing to allow her to talk to them or sit with them at lunch.
Mary Mouser is known for her role as Lacey Fleming on the ABC series 'Body of Proof'. She also took over the role of Karen Grant, Fitz and Mellie's daughter, on 'Scandal' in Season 4.