Wax on, wax off.
Actress Courtney Henggeler, who starred as Amanda LaRusso within the massively in style “The Karate Kid” spinoff “Cobra Kai” on Netflix, is quitting appearing after greater than twenty years within the business.
“After 20-plus years of fighting the good fight in the acting business, I hung up my gloves on Friday,” Henggeler, 46, introduced in a Substack submit. “I called my agents and told them I was tapping out. I no longer wanted to be a cog in the wheel of the machine.”
“When prompted to know what I did want to do,” she added, “I simply replied ‘I want to be the machine.’”
Earlier than starring as Ralph Macchio’s onscreen spouse in “Cobra Kai” for the present’s whole six-season run, Henggeler had a number of small appearances in different TV initiatives like “House,” “Criminal Minds,” “Mom,” “Bones” and “Jane the Virgin.”
She additionally starred as Sheldon Cooper’s sister, Missy Cooper, in two episodes of “The Big Bang Theory.”
“All I’ve ever known in my professional life was acting. But not even the art or craft of acting. All I’ve truly ever knew was the hustle,” the New Jersey native continued. “The hustle, the grind, sprinkled (sometimes) with the odd appearing job. Maybe a line or two to TV’s Dr. Home – ‘Sorry’ (that’s it. That was my line. Genius).“
“We survived off the crumbs,” Henggeler mentioned. “We stuffed our cup with the chance; our mugs with delusion. Our plates had been empty, however a golden goose hung over our heads. As we speak is likely to be the day. As we speak is likely to be the day I attain the golden goose.“
“20 plus years of this,” she wrote. “I’m hungry.”
However appearing alongside “The Karate Kid” stars Macchio, 63, and William Zabka, 59, in “Cobra Kai” for six seasons was not Henggeler’s solely profession excessive. She additionally labored with George Clooney for the actor-turned-director’s 2023 movie “The Boys in the Boat.”
“And I’m considered one of the lucky ones. I was on a series. A successful series. I made money. My face was on the billboards I longed for 20 plus years,” Henggeler wrote. “I was directed by George Clooney for godsakes. This by all definitions is the golden goose.”
“I’m famished,” she added.
Henggeler’s determination to stroll away from Hollywood comes months after “Cobra Kai” got here to an finish on February 13.
Whereas “Cobra Kai” noticed the return of Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence, it was removed from the primary “The Karate Kid” sequel – though it was the primary filmed for the small display.
The “Karate Kid” story that kicked off the franchise in 1984 continued with “The Karate Kid Part II” in 1986 and “The Karate Kid Part III” in 1989.
A fourth movie, “The Next Karate Kid,” was launched in 1994, however solely Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) returned for this installment. Hilary Swank additionally starred as Julie Pierce.
The unique movie obtained a remake in 2010. As soon as once more titled “The Karate Kid,” it noticed Jaden Smith star as protagonist Dre Parker and Jackie Chan seem because the mentor Mr. Han.
It wasn’t till Could 2018 that Netflix launched the primary season of “Cobra Kai,” with Macchio and Zabka returning to their authentic roles.
“I’m feeling great, because when does this happen?” Macchio informed The New York Instances shortly earlier than the present’s finale in February. “A show based on a movie from 34 years prior creating a new fandom and new generations of fans around a franchise. It feels like it’s landing at the right time and not overstaying its welcome. I’m excited for fans around the world to see Johnny and Daniel and all the characters come in for a landing.”
“It’s less goodbye for me and more ‘See you next time,’” he continued. “As all over the place and as big as ‘Cobra Kai’ got with these brawls and the accidental deaths and all these zillions of characters, it still was born out of Daniel and Johnny’s rivalry and now, in turn, friendship.”
“And that’s kind of life imitating art imitating life,” Macchio added, “not that Billy and I were ever rivals, but we were never as close as we are today.”
“Karate Kid: Legends,” one other sequel that may see Macchio return as Daniel LaRusso and Chan as Mr. Han, is scheduled for launch on Could 30. It reportedly takes place three years after the occasions of “Cobra Kai.”
