- "When I met your mom, she really knocked my socks off. Beautiful, blonde, tan… tight. Little did I know I’d be taking care of her schmuck kid forever."
- ―Sid to Johnny about Laura[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[]
Sid Weinberg was an executive producer who joined Lorimar Television at some point during the 1960s, though the company went defunct in the 1990s. At Lorimar, he gained a reputation for abusing his subordinates. At one point, Sid bragged about how he told his subordinates 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 Sid used his wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle with a fabulous house, expensive cars, and memberships to country clubs.
At some point around 1974, Sid married Laura Lawrence and became the stepfather to her son Johnny Lawrence. However, Sid 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 he 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. 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 the more time Johnny was either focused on karate or being a playboy
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". Whether it was for Laura or not, Sid continued to allow Johnny to have access to the Encino Oaks Country Club. Some time during the 1990s Johnny and Dutch were caught vandalizing the country club, which may have jeopardized Sid's membership. However, it was evident Sid was in sufficient social standing and monetary influence to keep the club was blacklisting Johnny.
Following Laura's death in January 2002, days before Robby Keene's birth, 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 Sid promised Laura he would do so after her death.
Later, Sid hired Rhonda as his nurse and she stayed at the house.
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".
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 2002 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.
When Johnny later visits him to ask for money to help with Miguel's surgery, Sid is still shown to be a cold and mean spirited human being that mocks Johnny. Johnny then gets angry and nearly makes a fist as he looks like he is about to attack Sid, who gets scared and tells him to ease it down. Then, Sid refuses to help him and believed that Johnny was a loser just like his father. He also doesn't care when Johnny threatens to speak about a public event with his secretary, as he doesn't care about his reputation. When Johnny leaves, he calls Sid a cold and bitter old man that doesn't deserve to live anymore.
Episode Appearances[]
Season 1[]
- Ace Degenerate
- Molting
- Different but Same (Mentioned)
Season 3[]
Season 4[]
- Bicephaly (Mentioned in flashback)
- Minefields (Mentioned)
Season 6[]
- The Prize (Indirectly 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 the president 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.
- Some parts of season 6 volume 2 got leaked, and one of them says that Sid's property gets gifted to Johnny and Carmen.
- Edward Asner passed away in August 2021, though Sid is still alive as of Season 6 (which takes place in fall 2019).
References[]
- ↑ Confirmed by Johnny Lawrence in the episode "The Prize" ("unfortunately, he is still alive.").
