Actors Ralph Macchio and William Zabka shared the screen in their iconic roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence in 1984 The Karate Kid.
Many thought that the story came to an end for the characters years ago, but the Netflix series revived the franchise nearly after 30 years. And once again, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence faced each other in Cobra Kai.
And even after years, the feud between the actors extended beyond the screen. As a result, their real-life relationship was strained for decades. But The Karate Kid‘s director was responsible for why they never initiated a friendship.
The Karate Kid Director Influenced the Real-Life Feud Between Ralph Macchio and William Zabka
During the casting of The Karate Kid, the young actors—Ralph Macchio and William Zabka—didn’t have a close friendship. They maintained a professional relationship on set.
The young actors were not soft on one another because the director of Karate Kid, John Avildsen, intentionally kept Macchio and Zabka apart to ensure they didn’t become too friendly. So that they can maintain tension for fight scenes—this lack of bonding led to awkward interactions between the stars (as per The Things).
Macchio and Zabka didn’t maintain a close friendship even after filming and went separate ways. Despite being cordial at screenings, they avoided negative comments about each other. That’s why there are no real-life stories or rumors about their bitter relationship.
A Death of a Close Friend Brought Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Together
Obviously, Avildsen was one reason why the young stars never got close to each other. There’s another reason that escalated the distance between them. An on-set injury to Macchio, caused by Zabka, fueled their feud even more.
The Halloween fighting scene in The Karate Kid led to an accident where Zabka’s wrong move knocked out Macchio. The tension between the two actors became noticeable behind the scenes. It didn’t only last during the first The Karate Kid but also in the sequel.
While the lack of warmth between Macchio and Zabka contributed to the success of their characters on screen, this also led to real-life animosity between the actors. And this happened just because of a wrong move during a fight scene that intensified their feud.
Despite occasional encounters over the decades, the death of Pat Morita in 2005 brought Ralph Macchio and William Zabka together. During a moment of raw emotion at Morita’s memorial, Zabka’s simple smile caught Macchio’s eye.
This is when the enduring friendship between the stars was born. Later, this newfound connection played a crucial role in the success of the Cobra Kai series.
