Martin Kove

John Kreese, the Cobra Kai sensei.

Martin Kove is an American actor best known as John Kreese, the villain of The Karate Kid (1984), a role he repeated in Part II, Part III and Cobra Kai (2018-2025).

Quick Facts

Born: 6 March 1947
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Education: NYU Tisch (dropped out)
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1971–present
Children: 2

Facts from the source article.

Background

Born in 1947 and adopted into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, he traces his love of acting to a fourth-grade trip to a play, The Golden Goose.

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Related in Cobra Kai

Cobra Kai Season 2

Links follow this subject's own source article.

Elsewhere in Cobra Kai

John Kreese · Characters & Senseis Jessica Andrews · Characters & Senseis The Next Karate Kid · Films Seisan · Techniques & Moves Cobra Kai Season 2 · Seasons & Tournaments Santa Monica Beach · Locations & Settings

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