The highly anticipated season 5 of Cobra Kai is slated to arrive on Netflix on September 9th, 2022, and will continue the exciting adventures of some of the most beloved characters on TV right now. Playing those characters is an impressive cast filled with rising stars and veteran performers.
Despite some only just getting their careers started, they all have notable other roles where you can find them once you’re done binging Cobra Kai. From action classics to shows aimed at children to several modern comedies, the actors to star in this series shine in every role they’ve had.
Jacob Bertrand – Kirby Buckets (2014-2017)
Stream On Disney+
It’s difficult to even recognize Jacob Bertrand outside of Cobra Kai given that his iconic mohawk is what everyone associates him with. Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz has one of the show’s best arcs going from bullied loner to badass karate expert to turning into a likable good guy.
Years prior to his memorable role on this Netflix series, Bertrand had a leading role as a teenager in Kirby Buckets. The Disney XD series followed his titular character as he navigates life and aspires to be an animator, leading to several stories being told in animated form.
Gianni DeCenzo – 100 Things To Do Before High School (2014-2016)
Buy On Amazon
Unlike a lot of his fellow cast members, Gianni DeCenzo doesn’t have much experience on either the big or small screens. Cobra Kai is easily his most notable role and everything outside of it came a few years back, other than a guest spot in NCIS.
The actor who plays Demetri Alexopoulos appeared in a handful of episodes of the short-lived Nickelodeon series 100 Things to do Before High School. The show followed two best friends who make a list of what they want to do before entering high school. DeCenzo played Arthur Picklewickle in four installments.
Martin Kove – Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Stream On HBO Max
It makes perfect sense that Martin Kove landed a role in one of the most badass action movies of all time, Rambo: First Blood Part II. The actor is synonymous with being a tough guy, which plays into so many of his roles, including and especially as John Kreese in The Karate Kid franchise.
Although his role in Rambo: First Blood Part II isn’t as prominent, it’s still a big part of his filmography. The film focuses on the titular John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) as he infiltrates an enemy camp to save prisoners. While it is most certainly Stallone’s vehicle, Kove gets a few moments to showcase his talents.
Peyton List – Then Came You (2018)
Stream On Tubi & The Roku Channel
A handful of impressive young actors starred in 2018’s Then Came You, a film about the relationship that forms between a hypochondriac boy and a girl dying of cancer. Asa Butterfield, Maisie Williams, and Nina Dobrev led the way in this delightful teen rom-com.
Among those faces in the cast was Peyton List, who has been a standout in Cobra Kai since arriving in season 2 as Tory Nichols, thanks to a great performance and well-written character arc. In Then Came You, List had a role as Ashley, a former friend of the girl dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Mary Mouser – Body Of Proof (2011-2013)
Stream On Hulu & Freevee
Like so many others who appear as the teenagers in this series, Mary Mouser is someone who appeared in a few places before the show started but is still branching out into other, bigger parts. For Mouser, that includes roles in Freakish and the Shonda Rhimes hit Scandal.
However, for a strong look at her acting talents, it’s worth checking out Body of Proof. This short-lived ABC series centers on a medical examiner with unorthodox methods of solving crimes. It puts her at odds with her daughter, played by Mouser. That role grew into a starring part which helped her for her turn as Samantha LaRusso.
Tanner Buchanan – He’s All That (2021)
Stream On Netflix
Young Tanner Buchanan has all the makings of a rising star in Hollywood. His performance as Robby Keene has been strong and he’s starting to land roles outside of the popular series, including one on a Netflix original film, He’s All That.
This movie is a modern adaptation of the 1998 teen film She’s All That and it sees Buchanan star as Cameron Kweller, the anti-social teen boy who is given a makeover to turn him into a heartthrob. Although the film was met with poor reviews, Buchanan was one of the highlights.
Courtney Henggeler – Into The Dark (2018-2021)
Stream On Hulu
More often than not, Amanda LaRusso is the voice of reason on this show. She is known to mention how ridiculous the events around her are but has also been swept up in it all. Amanda is played by screen veteran Courtney Henggeler.
She has popped up in guest roles on shows like Happy Endings but she might best be found as part of Hulu’s Into the Dark series. Each episode of this anthology series almost acts as its own movie. Henggeler showed up as Anna in a 2019 installment titled Pilgrim.
Xolo Maridueña – Parenthood (2010-2015)
Stream On Hulu, Peacock, & The Roku Channel
Xolo Maridueña plays someone who is likely the most important and central character among the teenagers. The complex Miguel Diaz is the person who sets the story in motion after he meets Johnny Lawrence and he’s remained a mentee figure for Johnny and Daniel.
Long before he landed this role, Maridueña joined an established hit series, Parenthood. He arrived after a few seasons as Victor, the adopted son of Julia and Joel, two of the main characters. It gave him a chance to show off his dramatic chops at a young age.
Ralph Macchio – My Cousin Vinny (1992)
Stream On HBO Max
Everyone knows Ralph Macchio for his iconic role in The Karate Kid franchise, which he continues to do great work in on Cobra Kai. Macchio is Daniel LaRusso and has been for several decades but he has some other major roles under his belt.
A true highlight of his career came in My Cousin Vinny, as Macchio played Bill Gambini. His character is the focal point of the plot though the bigger performances went to Joe Pesci and the Oscar-winning turn by Marisa Tomei.
William Zabka – How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
Stream On Hulu & Amazon Prime
The appearance of William Zabka on How I Met Your Mother is an interesting one because it falls perfectly in line with a lot of how Cobra Kai is laid out. Barney Stinson revealed that he felt Zabka’s character Johnny Lawrence was the true hero of the film.
Cobra Kai started from Johnny’s point of view, turning him into a redeeming hero, which was perfect. He showed up in a handful of episodes of HIMYM as himself, even being part of Barney’s wedding weekend activities.