Thomas Parobek
A Fairfax, Virginia–based actor known for playing Young Johnny Lawrence in Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Ezra Goodwin in Apple TV+’s The Crowded Room, and the young Brad Minns in the feature Never Give Up.
Known for Cobra Kai & The Crowded Room
Active public appearances, premiere events, and voicework in Paw Patrol: Pup Talks.
Profile-driven, not template-driven
Thomas Parobek is an eleven-year-old American actor whose career began almost by accident — a small role in a short film called Authentics, arranged by his uncle, led to a nod from veteran actor Linden Ashby and a walk-in at a talent agency. Within two years he was cast as Young Johnny Lawrence in the fourth season of Netflix’s global hit Cobra Kai, stepping into a role shadowed by William Zabka’s four-decade legacy in the Karate Kid universe.
What followed has read like a short course in prestige television: a recurring arc as Ezra, the young son of Amanda Seyfried’s psychiatrist character, across episodes 6, 9 and 10 of Apple TV+’s limited series The Crowded Room opposite Tom Holland; the lead as the young Brad Minns in the theatrically-released sports drama Never Give Up, based on the true story of a deaf tennis champion at the 1985 Deaf World Games; and voicework as Chase in the Paw Patrol “Pup Talks” specials alongside Kenan Thompson, Meghan Trainor, and quarterback Brock Purdy.
He trains in karate, plays tennis and guitar, codes in Python, follows space missions the way other kids follow sports, and was inducted into American Mensa before his ninth birthday. He is represented theatrically by CESD Talent Agency in New York and Los Angeles, by Formation Talent Agency in Atlanta, and managed by Brave Artists Management.
Featured credits
Cobra Kai
Cast in flashback sequences anchoring Johnny’s Eagle Fang origin story. Thomas booked the role at age six, stepping in after Owen D. Stone, and filmed in Atlanta during summer 2021.
With William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Thomas Ian Griffith.
The Crowded Room
As the son of Amanda Seyfried’s psychiatrist Rya, Thomas appeared in episodes 6, 9, and 10 of Akiva Goldsman’s psychological thriller — grounding Seyfried’s character’s personal life against the Tom Holland-led main mystery.
With Tom Holland, Amanda Seyfried, Laila Robins.
Never Give Up
Portraying the seven-year-old version of deaf tennis champion Brad Minns, Thomas opens a sports drama that released in 700+ theaters nationwide. The role required learning to play deaf on screen and drilling tennis technique for months pre-shoot.
Best Supporting Actor nominee, International Christian Film Festival.
Paw Patrol: Pup Talks
Stepped into the paws of the franchise’s iconic German Shepherd for Nickelodeon’s celebrity-pairing Pup Talks specials — interviewing guests across sports, music, and comedy television.
Guests include Kenan Thompson, Meghan Trainor, Brock Purdy.
Every credit, reverse-chronological
- 2024 Paw Patrol: Pup Talks Chase — recurring voice role Animation · TV Current
- 2023 The Crowded Room Ezra Goodwin — son of Rya (Amanda Seyfried) Limited series · Apple TV+ Released
- 2023 Never Give Up Brad Minns (age 7) — lead, feature film Feature · ReelWorks Released
- 2022 FBI: International Guest star, CBS procedural Series · CBS Released
- 2022 They Watch Noah Thorpe — lead, horror/thriller Feature · Independent Released
- 2022 Hallowed Sam — supporting Feature Released
- 2021–22 Cobra Kai Young Johnny Lawrence — Season 4 flashbacks Series · Netflix Released
- 2022 An Unlikely Angel Tommy — supporting Feature Released
- 2022 Love Dogs Supporting Feature Released
- 2022 Baby Brother Lead Short film Released
- 2021 Choice Young Vincent Short film Released
- 2021 Disillusioned Ethan Short film Released
- 2020 A Red Sock Supporting Short film Released
- 2019 Authentics Shaun — first role, age 5 Short film Archive
Selected coverage
A pint-sized child star who punches way above his weight as young Johnny Lawrence — a rising force to reckon with.Sportskeeda · Cobra Kai S4 breakout feature
It’s not every day that a kid from Fairfax, Virginia, gets to hang out with Spider-Man.WTOP News · The Crowded Room profile, 2023
One of several new faces added to the Miyagi-verse’s ever-expansive ensemble — a turn sure to make viewers sit up.Sportskeeda · Exclusive interview
Amanda Seyfried’s Rya is given a personal life, complete with an unruly child played by Thomas Parobek.The Hollywood Reporter · The Crowded Room review
Bullied at school by teachers and students alike, the young Minns played by Thomas Parobek desperately needs support.The Banner · Never Give Up review
A talented young actor who can be seen playing Ezra in the Apple TV+ series — and Young Johnny in Cobra Kai.Naluda Magazine · Interview, June 2023
Portrait gallery
Set ephemera
Industry recognition
Best Young Actor
American Youth Film Festival — recognition for early short-film work, including Choice and Disillusioned.
Star of the Year
American Youth Film Festival — follow-up nomination after a breakthrough festival year.
Best Supporting Actor
International Christian Film Festival — for lead performance as young Brad Minns in Never Give Up.
American Mensa
Inducted at age seven. One of the youngest actively-working performers on the member roster.
SAG-AFTRA
Eligible for union membership — a prerequisite for most network and streaming series work.
Karate
Active training since filming Cobra Kai — part of the on-screen skill set carried into subsequent auditions.
Timeline & news
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Apr 25–26, 2026
Cobra Kai Creation Event — Whippany, NJ
Thomas joins the Cobra Kai cast for the Creation Entertainment convention at the Hanover Marriott — his first signing appearance alongside series co-stars. Photo ops and panel scheduled across the weekend.
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2024
Paw Patrol: Pup Talks debuts on Nickelodeon
Voices Chase across celebrity-guest interview specials featuring Kenan Thompson, Meghan Trainor, and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
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Sept 2023
Never Give Up opens theatrically
ReelWorks Studios releases the Brad Minns biopic nationwide for National Deaf Awareness Month in 700+ screens. Thomas’s lead performance as the young Brad earns a Best Supporting Actor nod at the International Christian Film Festival.
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June 9, 2023
The Crowded Room premieres on Apple TV+
Akiva Goldsman’s ten-episode limited series arrives globally with Thomas in a recurring role as Ezra Goodwin across episodes 6, 9, and 10. Red-carpet premiere held at MoMA, New York.
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Dec 2021
Cobra Kai Season 4 drops on Netflix
Thomas’s first major streaming credit lands worldwide on December 31st. Season 4 opens at #1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 within 48 hours of release.
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2021
Inducted into American Mensa
Passes the qualifying assessment at age seven, joining a small roster of working child actors in the high-IQ society.
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2019
First role — Authentics
At age five, cast by his uncle in a short film alongside Linden Ashby (Mortal Kombat, Teen Wolf). Ashby’s on-set endorsement leads to a walk-in at a talent agency weeks later.
Watch & listen
Cobra Kai fan interview
Fandom-focused interview centered on playing the young version of Johnny Lawrence.
LaunchBeyond the Fame
Longer-form audio interview about The Crowded Room, Cobra Kai, and life as a working child actor.
Launch@thomasparobek
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FollowThomas Parobek
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CESD Talent Agency
New York · Los Angeles. Full-service agency handling television and theatrical bookings plus voiceover across both coastal offices.
cesdtalent.comFormation Talent Agency
Atlanta. Regional theatrical representation for Southeast U.S. productions, including the streaming shows shooting out of Georgia.
formationagency.comBrave Artists Management
Career strategy, project development, and offers. Primary point of contact across all categories — the best place to start for any inquiry.
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