Cobra Kai features several teenage characters, but how old they are compared to the actors who play Miguel, Tory, Sam, and others are very different.
Cobra Kai Actors Characters Ages Comparison
Cobra Kai focuses on younger characters, but the ages of the actors who play them are very different in comparison. Although the Karate Kid sequel show also is about the renewed rivalry between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), the other primary part of the story is about a new group of teenagers caught up in the ongoing karate feud. Through five seasons of the show, viewers have watched the kid characters mature physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, the Cobra Kai timeline has created a growing gap between how old the characters and actors are.
It is easy to forget at times that Cobra Kai's entire story has unfolded over the course of roughly two years. This has created a common problem for shows or movie franchises that want to focus on characters as teenagers where the actors age at a quicker rate than their characters. The ages of Cobra Kai's actors and characters are no different. Although the show originally began with most actors playing characters who were close to the same age as them in real life, the gaps between seasons and filming schedules have meant comparing the Cobra Kai characters' ages to their actors makes for a growing divide.
Xolo Maridueña Is 4 Years Older Than Miguel Diaz
Xolo Maridueña as Miguel in Cobra Kai season 5
Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña is currently 4 years older than his character Miguel Diaz. The show's main younger character was introduced in season 1 as a 15-year-old who just moved to the Valley. This originally worked for Cobra Kai as filming began on season 1 when Xolo Maridueña was 16 years old. That meant he was only a year older than his character at most. However, by the time that season 5 began filming, Maridueña was 20 years old, while Miguel can only be 17 years old at most. Xolo Maridueña's birthday is June 9, 2001, which makes him four years older than his Cobra Kai character.
Tanner Buchanan Is 7 Years Older Than Robby Keene
Robby Keene screaming at the tournament in Cobra Kai
Tanner Buchanan is roughly 7 years older than Robby Keene when the Cobra Kai actor and characters' ages are compared. He was introduced to the show as the 15-year-old son of Johnny Lawrence. Since Tanner Buchanan's birthday is December 8, 1998, he was 19 years old when he first began playing the character, making him four years older right from the start. The gap between Tanner and Robby's ages has only grown since then. Since Robby is confirmed to be 17 years old by the events of season 5, Buchanan being 23 at the time increased the gap to six years. He is currently seven years older, though.
Mary Mouser Is 10 Years Older Than Samantha LaRusso
Sam LaRusso season 5
Mary Mouser's Samantha LaRusso represents the largest difference between the Cobra Kai's actors and characters' ages in comparison. Mary Mouser's birthday is May 9, 1996, which means she was 21 years old when she first started acting on the show and playing a 15-year-old Sam. The six-year gap has grown significantly over the years. Since Sam is only 17 years old by Cobra Kai season 5, Mary was 25 years old when production took place, which made her eight years older. Now that she has turned 27 ahead of season 6, Mary Mouser is a full decade older than Samantha LaRusso.
Peyton List Is 8 Years Older Than Tory Nichols
Peyton List as Tory in Cobra Kai season 5 looking serious
Cobra Kai's Peyton List is eight years older than her character's age. Tory Nichols debuted as a 15-year-old in the show's first season. Peyton List's birthday is April 6, 1998, which means she was 19 years old when she first started playing Tory. That initial four-year gap between the age of the Cobra Kai actress and character has now doubled thanks to the show's condensed timeline. Since Tory is thought to be 17 years old during Cobra Kai season 5, that made Peyton six years older during filming. Now that it is 2023, a full eight years separates Peyton List and Tory Nichols' ages.
Jacob Bertrand Is 6 Years Older Than Eli 'Hawk' Moskowitz
Jacob Bertrand as Hawk in Cobra Kai season 4
Jacob Bertrand is roughly six years older than Eli Moskowitz when comparing the difference between the Cobra Kai actor and the character's age. Jacob Bertrand's birthday is March 6, 2000, which would have made him 17 years old when he first joined the show. That immediately made him two years older than Hawk. While Eli is the same age that Jacob was when he first started playing the role, the actor is now 23 years old. This makes him six years older than his Cobra Kai characters' age.
Gianni DeCenzo Is 4 Years Older Than Demetri
Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri in a gi in Cobra Kai
Gianni DeCenzo is one of the Cobra Kai actors who are closest in age to their character. Gianni DeCenzo was born on October 27, 2001, which means he would have just turned 16 years old when the show began filming. That practically makes him the same age that Demetri was in the first season. While Demetri is only 17 years old by the end of Cobra Kai season 5, Gianni DeCenzo was only 20 years old when filming took place. Gianni DeCenzo is currently only 21 years old, though, making him four years older than his Cobra Kai character's age.
Griffin Santopietro Is 2 Years Older Than Anthony LaRusso
Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso in Cobra Kai season 4 in a gymnasium in a gray t-shirt
Anthony LaRusso actor Griffin Santopietro is also close to the same age as his Cobra Kai character. Griffin's birthday is January 5, 2005, which would have made him 12 years old when the series began filming. Anthony LaRusso has a confirmed birthday of July 8, 2005, which helps make it easier to know exactly how old he is in each season. The Cobra Kai actor and character's ages would have been identical during the first season, while Anthony would turn 15 during season 5. For comparison, Griffin Santopietro was 16 years old during filming. He is still only 2 years older than Anthony now.
Dallas Dupree Young Is 2 Years Older Than Kenny Payne
Kenny from Cobra Kai season 4, wearing a black uniform
Dallas Dupree Young began playing Kenny Payne in Cobra Kai season 4. Dallas Dupree Young's birthday is October 25, 2006, which means he was 15 years old when he joined the series as a 14-year-old middle schooler. Since the show has only explored a few months of his life to this point, the gap between the Cobra Kai actor and the character's age has barely grown. Young should only be 2 years older than Kenny right now.
How Old Cobra Kai's Other Kid Actors Are Compared To Their Characters
The kids at the Miyagi-Do dojo bowing outside in a scene from Cobra Kai.
There are several other teenage Cobra Kai characters played by actors who have different ages. This is thanks to the various dojos and the high school setting that the show repeatedly features. Here is a round-up of additional Cobra Kai actors and characters' ages from the other supporting roles.
Joe Seo (Born July 31, 1990) is 32 years old, making him 14 or 15 years older than the 17 or 18-year-old Kyler Park.
Nichole Brown (Born January 30, 2001) is 22 years old, making her five years older than Aisha Robinson, who is 17 years old.
Owen Morgan (Born March 9, 2004) is 19 years old, making him four years older than the 15-year-old Bert.
Aedin Mincks (Born October 10, 2000) is 22 years old, making him five years older than his Coba Kai character Mitch, who is 17 years old.
Nathaniel Oh (Born September 17, 2006) is 16 years old, making him one year older than Nathaniel, who is estimated to be 15 years old.
Khalil Everage (Born January 6, 2001) is 22 years old, making him five years older than 17-year-old Chris.
Oona O'Brien (Born September 15, 2006) is 16 years old, making her at most one year older than her Cobra Kai character Devon Lee, who appears to be 15.
Selah Austria (Born May 2, 2001) is 22 years old, making her five years older than Piper Elswith, who should be 17 years old.
Annalisa Cochrane (Born June 21, 1996) is 26 years old, making her nine years older than 17-year-old Yasmine.
Hannah Kepple (Born November 20, 2000) is 22 years old, making her five years older than 17-year-old Moon.
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