Karate Kid Star Chad McQueen Reveals He Was Nasty To Ralph Macchio While On Set

Fans of the Karate Kid certainly know that Chad McQueen played the role of Dutch in the first film. Throughout the first time, Dutch harasses Ralph Macchio’s character, Daniel LaRusso, alongside his fellow Cobra Kai teammates.

However, it seems McQueen’s abrasive attitude didn’t just stop in the movie. During a 2018 Sports Illustrated interview, the cast and crew of The Karate Kid discussed making the classic film.

William Zabka, who played the role of Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, stated that he did not have a close relationship with Ralph Macchio when they were shooting for the film.

”It was like going to college and having your first new batch of buddies. We were the Cobra Kai snake, all one piece.”

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Zabka added that the movie’s director John Avildsen had purposefully “separated [the Cobra Kai actors] from Ralph.”

Rob Garrison, who played the role of Tommy, was puzzled by the director’s decision to separate Macchio from the rest.

You’d wonder: Why is John doing this? But onscreen it brought out a real-life quality. Not being able to hang around Ralph, it was a lot easier picking on him in the movie than it would have been if we were buddies. 

Chad McQueen also admitted that he was quite abrasive to Macchio as while on the set.

“I never really talked to Ralph. If I did, I’d say something nasty.”

As reported earlier, Cobra Kai’s fourth season is already underway and we will have to see when the season will drop.