| “ | Get him a body bag! | „ |
| ~ Tommy's most famous quote. |
Tommy is a supporting antagonist in the 1984 film, The Karate Kid and a supporting character in its sequel TV Series, Cobra Kai.He was a member of the Cobra Kai Dojo and Johnny Lawrence's gang.
He was portrayed by the late Rob Garrison.
Biograph[]
Pre-Karate Kid[]
Tommy had feelings for Johnny Lawrence's eventually ex-girlfriend Ali, and joined the Cobra Kai Dojo so that he would be able to develop the courage to ask her out. He faced Johnny in the finals of a tournament in 1983 (possibly The All Valley). Despite losing to Johnny, he gave Johnny a tough fight.
Karate Kid[]
Tommy repeatedly bullies and harasses Daniel LaRusso. He faces Daniel in the fourth round of the All Valley tournament. While he is able to score a point against Daniel, the latter manages to defeat him. He vocally expresses support for Johnny Lawrence during the semifinals and finals, though Johnny loses to Daniel in the finals.
Karate Kid 2[]
When his and Johnny's instructor Kreese berates Johnny for losing to Daniel in the tournament, Tommy defends Johnny and pleads with Kreese to forgive him. When Mr. Miyagi intervenes while Kreese has Johnny in a chokehold, Tommy agrees with Mr. Miyagi's persuasion and tells Kreese to let Johnny go, but Kreese angrily hits him.
Karate Kid 3[]
Tommy is not present, but it is likely that he left the dojo following Kreese's assault against him and Johnny.
Cobra Kai[]
Season 1[]
Despite not appearing in the present time, he appears in flashbacks, and is mentioned by Johnny to his top student Miguel Diaz.
Season 2[]
It is revealed that Tommy has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and does not have much time to live. He is visited on his deathbed by Johnny, Bobby Brown and Jimmy. Despite being in the advanced stages of his malady, he is still energetic enough to jump out of bed and spend a last rendezvous with his friends. They go to a bar where they reminisce about earlier times, as well as the fact their friend Dutch could not be there due t being in jail. Some goons sexually harass a barmaid, then proceed to mock Tommy by comparing him to a "Make-a-Wish child". This prompts Johnny to start fighting, and the others back him up. Tommy does not do much fighting, but is proud of himself for landing a punch on one of the goons given his condition.
Later, the quartet camps out somewhere in the forest. When it is only Johnny sitting by a campfire, Tommy has a confession to make; he lusted after Ali Mills. Johnny is more perplexed than angry at hearing this; Tommy says during his freshman year of high school that he and Ali were in the same homeroom. When he saw she fell for Johnny, he decided that loyalty to his fellow Cobra Kais was more important and that it best he be a gentleman and withdraw from his limerence for her. Tommy says there is something Johnny has that he does not, to which Johnny answers "Good looks". Tommy chuckles and remarks besides that; what he was thinking was time. As Johnny has his health, it is certain he will outlive Tommy. Tommy recommends Johnny use the time God gave him to find a woman and get in a serious relationship with her.
Personality[]
Tommy is the most vocal member of the Cobra Kai. From time to time he yells out of joy or anger. However, over 3 decades later Tommy is much more calm and peaceful. He spends his final day happily hanging out with his friends. He then dies peacefully in his sleep.
Trivia[]
- According to Cobra Kai producer Jon Hurwitz, Tommy was potentially scheduled to appear in the show's third season portrayed by Rob Garrison again, where he would appear in flashbacks. Unfortunately, those plans didn't materialize due to Garrison's death in 2019.
- When he dies peacefully in his sleep, he is put in a body bag when an ambulance arrives to pick up his corpse. This coincidentally references his known quote, "Get him a body bag! Yeah!"
