William Zabka
Birth Name: William Michael Zabka
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 20, 1965
Ethnicity:
*Czech (father)
*German (mother)
William Zabka is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He is known for his roles as Johnny in The Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai series, as well as for supporting parts in other 1980s properties.
William is the son of Nancy Zabka, a business liaison, producer, and production assistant, and Stan Zabka, a director, writer, and composer. He is married to Stacie, with whom he has two children.
His name is pronounced zhuh-b-kuh. It means “little frog” in Czech.
William’s paternal grandfather was Frank/Frant Zabka (the son of John Zabka and Anna Rolak). Frank was born in Czechoslovakia/Moravia, now the Czech Republic. He had roots in Bystřice nad Pernštejnem.
William’s paternal grandmother was Marie Geraldine Buresh (the daughter of John/Jan Albin Bures/Buresh and Marie/Mary Peharek/Pekarek/Pecharek). William’s grandmother Marie Geraldine was born in Nebraska, to parents from Czechia. William’s great-grandmother Marie/Mary was the daughter of John Pekarek/Peharek.
William’s maternal grandfather was Henry Heimert, Jr. (the son of Henry Heimert and Christine/Christina Weber). William’s grandfather Henry was born in New Jersey. William’s great-grandparents Henry and Christine were born in New York, both of them to German parents.
William’s maternal grandmother was Madaleine/Madeleine/Madeline Hazel C. Yoeckel (the daughter of John Jacob Yoeckel and Madeleine Kohlwey). William’s grandmother Madaleine was born in New York. John was the son of German parents, Johann Peter Jöckel and Margaretha Habermehl. William’s great-grandmother Madeleine’s father was German.
Sources: Genealogy of William Zabka (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Marriage record of William’s maternal grandparents, Henry Heimert, Jr. and Madaleine/Madeleine/Madeline Hazel C. Yoeckel – https://www.familysearch.org
William’s maternal grandfather, Henry Heimert, Jr., on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Henry Heimert, Jr. on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Ethnicity Related Discussion