The primary cast ofCobra Kaiis back for season 6, part 2, this time joined by a slew of new faces. Many of these characters (and their actors) have been loved by audiences for decades since they first appeared on screen back in 1984’sThe Karate Kidmovie and its sequels. Of course,Cobra Kai provided an opportunity for the likes of Billy Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence and Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso to return with a handful of new young karate students for them to foster.
Now, withCobra Kaiseason 6, the cast and characters of this franchise have grown even more. Miyagi-Do has qualified for the global karate tournament, the Sekai Taikai, which sees the best fighters come together in Barcelona, Spain, to duke it out over the championship title. Our three sensei andsix Miyagi-Do studentsare therefore introduced to competitors from Cobra Kai (run by John Kreese) anda brand new rival dojo, the Iron Dragon.Cobra Kaibrought in the big dogs for these exciting new roles, andthe cast of season 6 features seasoned actors and martial arts champions alike.
19Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
Date Of Birth: August 17, 2025
New York nativeRalph Macchio is best known for playingDaniel LaRusso in theKarateKidmovies(1984 - 1989) and has, of course, returned to the franchise to play the same character inCobra Kai. Some of Macchio’s other notable credits includeThe Outsider(1983) andMy Cousin Vinny(1992).
Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso has come a long way in the past 40 years, and his development inCobra Kaialone has been significant. Though he had an intense rivalry with Johnny Lawrence and Cobra Kai dojo that lasted for years, they have since mended their ways and have joined forces forCobra Kaiseason 6’s Sekai Taikai global karate tournament.
18William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
Date Of Birth: July 29, 2025
William Zabka’s career quickly took off with 1984’sThe Karate Kid, and his portrayal of bad boy Johnny Lawrence earned him a reputation for playing villains. He went on to appear in films likeJust One of the Guys(1985) andBack to School(1986), before joining the cast of the 1986 TV showThe Equelizer. Still, Zabka is best known asKarate Kid’s Johnny, a fact thatCobra Kaihas solidified.
Johnny Lawrence has completely turned his life around, joining up with Daniel LaRusso’s Miyagi-Do, improving himself as a father to Robby and Miguel, and eagerly awaiting a new baby as he prepares for the Sekai Taikai.
Zabka’sKarate Kidcharacter has taken the primary role inCobra Kai, which puts villain redemptions at the forefront. As of the Netflix series' sixth season, Johnny Lawrence has completely turned his life around, joining up with Daniel LaRusso’s Miyagi-Do, improving himself as a father to Robby and Miguel, and eagerly awaiting a new baby as he prepares for the Sekai Taikai.
17Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
Date Of Birth: July 17, 2025
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Xolo Maridueña began his acting career playing Victor Graham in the 2012 dramaParenthoodbefore claiming his role inCobra Kaiin 2018.Maridueña also recently played Jamie Reyes (AKA Blue Beetle)in the DC superhero movieBlue Beetle(2023).
Maridueña playsMiguel Diaz inCobra Kai, the first student Johnny Lawrence took on at Cobra Kai dojo. Miguel has since become a more literal son to Johnny, and as ofCobra Kaiseason 6, he expects to welcome a baby sibling into his newly mixed family. Now a Miyagi-Do student, Miguel is among the six chosen to participate in the Sekai Taikai, though he lost the qualifying match that would have made him captain.
16Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
Date Of Birth: June 25, 2025
Ohio native Tanner Buchanan started his career on the TV seriesModern Familyin 2010.Buchanan snagged his first leading role in 2016 with the seriesDesignated Survivorand has since starred in projects likeHe’s All That(2021) andHow to Date Billy Walsh(2024).
Buchanan’s Robby Keene is Johnny Lawrence’s son inCobra Kai, though he started the series estranged from his father. This is water under the bridge inCobra Kaiseason 6, and Robby now practices karate at Miyagi-Do under Johnny and Daniel’s combined instruction. Robby is among the six fighters selected from his dojo forthe Sekai Taikai and serves as his team’s captain.
15Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
Date Of Birth: July 09, 2025
Mary Mouser began her career doing predominantly voice work, notablylending her voice to Eloise in 2006’sEloise: The Animated Series. In 2007, she played a primary role inLife is Wildbefore starring as Lacey Fleming in the 2011 seriesBody of Proof.
Mouser plays Samantha LaRusso inCobra Kai, the daughter of Daniel LaRusso and the only teen character in the series to learn karate from Mr. Miyagi himself. Sam easily qualified to represent Miyagi-Do in the Sekai Taikai and became the captain by default when Tory Nichols left the team to join up with John Kreese’s new Cobra Kai dojo.
14Peyton List as Tory Nichols
Date Of Birth: June 05, 2025
Peyton List began her acting career as a young child in projects like27 Dresses(2008) andBereavement, but shefirst gained significant notoriety playing Holly Hills in theDiary of a Wimpy Kidmovies starting in 2011. From there, List took on movies likeThinning(2016) and its sequel,The Thinning: New World Order(2018). After claiming her role inCobra Kai, List appeared inValley Girl(2020),Hubie Halloween(2020) andThe Inheritance(2024).
Tory had turned over a new leaf at Miyagi-Do, but the tragic death of her ill mother caused her to turn against her teammates and return to Kreese’s dojo.
List plays Tory Nichols inCobra Kai, an aggressive girl who became the queen bee ofCobra Kai Dojo under John Kreese’s leadership. InCorba Kaiseason 6, Tory had turned over a new leaf at Miyagi-Do, but the tragic death of her ill mother caused her to turn against her teammates and return to Kreese’s dojo. At the Sekai Taikai, Tory serves as Cobra Kai’s team captain.
13Jacob Bertrand as Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz
Date Of Birth: August 20, 2025
Los Angeles-bornJacob Bertrand began his career with Nickelodeon, appearing in series likeMarvin Marvin,iCarly, andJinxed. Bertrand later joined up with the Disney Channel, playing Jack Malloy in the 2016 movieThe Swap. After rising to greater fame inCobra Kai, Bertrand claimed a leading voice role with the ongoing 2020 seriesBatwheels, in which he plays Bam.
Bertrand plays Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz inCobra Kai, one of Johnny Lawrence’s early students at Cobra Kai. He went through his own villain arc in earlier seasons but has since joined up with Miyagi-Do. Hawk is another participant in the Sekai Taikai and is regarded as one of the dojo’s most aggressive fighters.
12Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri Alexopoulos
Date Of Birth: June 23, 2025
California-born actorGianni DeCenzo got his start appearing in TV shows likeThe Middle(2013) andEagleheart(2013)before landing more significant roles inCoop and Cami Ask the World(2019-2020) and100 Things to Do Before High School(2015-2016).Cobra Kairemains DeCenzo’s most notable credit, though he recently played Cavalli in the 2024 movieBlack Spines.
DeCenzo’s Demetri Alexopoulos was the least interested in karate of his nerdy friends, but he ultimately proved himself a force to be reckoned with. InCobra Kaiseason 6, Demetri managed to earn a spot in the Sekai Taikai alongside his best friend Eli. However, the news that Eli wouldn’t attend MIT the following fall drives a significant wedge in the friendship.
11Oona O’Brien as Devon Lee
July 29, 2025
Born in Evanston, Illinois, actorOona O’Brien began her career appearing in commercials for Nickelodeon, American Girl, and more. In 2020, she played Mia Savage in the short filmSky Highbefore being cast as Devon Lee in 2021.Cobra Kairemains O’Brien’s most significant credit.
Though Devon is a fighter for Miyagi-Do at the Sekai Taikai, she only secured her position by dosing Kenny Payne’s water with laxatives.
O’Brien’s Devon Lee was a later addition toCobra Kai, but she quickly secured herself among the main fighters of the series. She has bounced around between all dojos in the Valley, though she has remained largely loyal to Johnny Lawrence. Though Devon is a fighter for Miyagi-Do at the Sekai Taikai, she only secured her position by dosingKenny Payne’s water with laxatives—something she feels immensely guilty about.
10Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne
Date Of Birth: August 04, 2025
Dallas Dupree Young, born and raised in Houston, Texas,started acting in 2016 when he appeared inMurder Among Friends. From there, Young claimed recurring roles inVampirina(2017),The Fosters(2018), andThe Big Show(2020) before he began playing Kenny Payne inCobra Kaiin 2021.
Kenny’s morality has jumped around significantly since he first moved to the Valley inCobra Kai. He was heavily bullied by Anthony LaRusso but became the bully himself after joining up with Cobra Kai. InCobra Kaiseason 6, Kenny has more or less come around - though his being dosed with laxatives during the Sekai Taikai team-member selection put a damper on his redemption.
