- "You're cold, old man.
And don't you forget it, buster." - ―Johnny and Sid[src]
Sid Weinberg is a supporting character in Cobra Kai. He is the wealthy stepfather of Johnny Lawrence and the widower of the late Laura Lawrence, Johnny’s mother and Robby's grandmother.
He was portrayed by the late Ed Asner.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Sid Weinberg was an executive producer who joined Lorimar Television at some point during the early 1970s or when it was founded in February 1, 1969. The company went defunct on July 14, 1993 and was folded into Warner Bros. Television (now Warner Bros. Television Studios), but Sid possibly still kept working there. At Lorimar, he gained a reputation for abusing his subordinates, and even bragged about how he told them that he was the one "who runs Lorimar". This reputation stayed with Sid for the rest of his life. Sid's work with Lorimar made him rich, and he used his wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle with a luxurious mansion, expensive cars, and memberships to country clubs. It's possible that Sid was an important part of Lorimar and had made some major contributions, which is why he has so many awards decorating his office and home.
At some point around 1974, Sid married Laura Lawrence and became the stepfather to her son, Johnny Lawrence. Sid and Laura did not have any kids together. Sid for some reason disliked Johnny and constantly made a point to berate and bully him despite Laura's efforts. In 1979, Sid came home from a really bad day at work and Johnny had told Laura he wanted to take lessons at the Cobra Kai Dojo. Sid ridiculed him for wanting to learn karate and sarcastically said that Johnny wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. He then cited Johnny's many failures at drums, magic sets, and other diversions, calling him a reject. Though he ultimately decided to allow Johnny to take lessons after being persuaded by Laura.
It is unknown what Sid thought of the changes in Johnny after he joined Cobra Kai and began to dominate the All-Valley Karate scene, as well as becoming one of the most socially popular kids in the area. However it is possible that Sid still kept bullying Johnny and along with Johnny attending Cobra Kai is what led Johnny to become a bully. It's also unknown if he ever attended any of Johnny's tournaments to see how good he actually is, and it is also unknown if he ever met Kreese. Sid allowed Johnny access to the Encino Oaks Country Club, as well as a brand-new 1983 Avanti Convertible and Honda XL 600R motorcycle. However, it is evident that those luxuries were intended to keep his stepson busy, as Johnny was either focused on karate or being a troublemaker.
After losing the All-Valley to Daniel LaRusso in 1984, being disillusioned by John Kreese, and quitting Cobra Kai, Johnny was subjected to further verbal abuse from Sid, this time with no place to turn. According to Sid, Johnny continued to freeload off of him, and Johnny would admit later to Ali Mills that after high school, he "partied his entire 20's and most of the 30's away". Sid continued to allow Johnny to have access to the Encino Oaks Country Club, and it was implied that it was only because of Laura that he did so. Some time during the 1990s, Johnny and Dutch were caught vandalizing the country club. Dutch was criminally prosecuted for this offense. Sid stepped in and not only prevented Johnny from taking any criminal charges over this, but allowed Johnny to continue to have entry into the country club.
Following Laura's death in 2007, Sid's relationship with Johnny worsened. With Laura gone and Johnny continuing to 'freeload' off him, he kicked Johnny out of his house. Sid claims he continued to look after Johnny to a point during these years, as he promised Laura he would do so after her death. Over the years, Johnny would start getting into serious trouble and landing himself in jail many times, with Sid bailing him out and his attorneys kept Johnny's legal transgressions from being worse then they were.
Later, Sid hired a women named Rhonda as his live-in nurse to take care of him due to his old age.
Film series[]
The Karate Kid[]
Sid has dinner at the country club with Laura and Johnny and also meets Ali Mills and Mr. and Mrs. Mills. While he is sitting with Laura at the table, Johnny is dancing with Mrs. Mills, who then hands him over to Ali. Johnny then tried to kiss Ali which is seen by Daniel LaRusso, who stumbles upon the restaurant staff, resulting in Daniel being covered in spaghetti. Sid along with the other people proceed to laugh at Daniel leaving him humiliated.
Cobra Kai[]
Season 1[]
Sid bails Johnny out of jail over his latest infraction, and laments how much of a burden Johnny has been to him. He reminds Johnny of the promise he had made to Laura to always look out for Johnny, but says that it has come to an end due to him getting old. Sid then gives him a check in an attempt to buy him out of his life. Johnny refuses and tears up the check. Sid then leaves to get lunch, but before leaving he advices Johnny to get his life back together. Johnny, then decided to re-open the Cobra Kai Dojo, and tapes the check back together and cashes it to start the business.
After the Dojo becomes successful, Johnny recoups the money used to buy it, then returns to see Sid at his home. Sid initially thinks that Johnny has returned for money and tells him that he will not help him, however he gives Sid all the money back that he used to open the dojo and tells Sid that he never intends to see him again. Sid snaps that Johnny needs his money, but Johnny is adamant that he never needed the money, that was just all Sid had to give. He says goodbye and leaves Sid in disbelief, unable to use his money to control or show any kind of superiority over his stepson.
Season 3[]
Johnny reluctantly turns to Sid for help in raising the funds needed for Miguel Diaz's back surgery, following a catastrophic incident. Sid mocks him for many reasons, believing he was a loser just like his father. Johnny then threatens to speak out to the public of a secret incident that Sid had with a secretary. Sid then tells Johnny that he didn't achieve financial success due to his reputation, he then angrily tells Johnny to get out, in which Johnny does. However, he steals an expensive sculpture belonging to Sid on his way out, ultimately pawning it to pay for the surgery himself.
Season 6[]
While Johnny is house hunting for his family with the help of Chozen Toguchi, the owner of a rental home, Stevie, recognizes Johnny from the 1983 All Valley Tournament and asks if his credit is good, then if he has a wealthy relative who died. Sid is indirectly mentioned by Johnny when he answers, "Unfortunately, he's still alive".
Johnny later gets his mother's ring from Sid to propose to Carmen with. Johnny tells Rosa Diaz that Sid's still an asshole, but he seems to be getting soft in his old age.
Personality[]
Sid was a selfish and rude man who detested his stepson and berated whatever he was interested in. Despite his despicable nature, he held Laura in high regard. When she pleaded to nurture Johnny's interest in the Cobra Kai Dojo, thinking it will help him make friends, Sid approved this on the basis this will be another example of wasted talent. After Laura's death, Sid’s relationship with Johnny went from strained to outright hostility. Johnny, in turn, realizes something Laura apparently never caught on to, that Sid never truly loved his mother nor valued her as a human being. Sid married Laura to have her as a trophy wife, and grudgingly raised Johnny as he had been her child from a previous marriage and refused to acknowledge him as his own.
Sid believes being nice is pointless and that some people are born losers. Even his live-in nurse Rhonda would only being near him as it is her duty as she is on his payroll. One time when Sid was groaning over a meal and the doorbell rang, Rhonda bluntly stated she is paid to be Sid's nurse, not his cook nor maid.
Despite detesting Johnny, Sid kept his promise to Laura that he would take care of Johnny, which he did by bailing him out of jail more than once, and continued to do so from Laura's death in 2007 all the way to the fall of 2018. Sid eventually tried to buy him out of his life after he felt that Johnny was no longer worth it. However, after Johnny's newly reopened Cobra Kai became a success, Johnny returned all of Sid's money (money he gave Johnny to buy him out of his life) he used to re-open Cobra Kai and told him he would never see him again. At first, an arrogant Sid said he still needed him because of his money, only to be rebuffed by Johnny who told him he never needed his money, shocking Sid, and leaving him speechless. It is likely that Sid realized he could no longer bully Johnny or use money to control him, after Johnny gave back his money and walked out of his life for good.
However, Sid later agrees to give Johnny his mother's ring to propose to Carmen Diaz with. Johnny tells Rosa Diaz that while Sid's still an asshole, he seems to have gotten softer in his old age.
Appearances[]
Films[]
Cobra Kai[]
- Ace Degenerate
- Quiver (Flashback)
- Molting
- Different but Same (Mentioned)
- Bicephaly (Mentioned in flashback)
- Minefields (Mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Sid's name is likely an obvious reference to Sid Sheinberg, who was president and CEO of MCA Inc. and Universal Studios for over 40 years. Similarly, Sid Weinberg was an executive producer of Lorimar Television, another entertainment company.
- Despite being a minor recurring character in the television series, Sid plays a pivotal role in the development of Johnny Lawrence. His abusive and negative outlook on life directly influenced Johnny, explaining many of his actions in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai.
- It was implied that he sexually harassed his secretary, as the #MeToo movement Johnny threatens to use against him stands against sexual harassment and assault.
- Edward Asner passed away in August 2021, though Sid is still alive as of Season 6 (which takes place in between fall 2019 summer 2020) however he does not make an appearance and is only mentioned.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Confirmed by Johnny Lawrence in the episode "The Prize" ("unfortunately, he is still alive.").
