During the first three seasons of Cobra Kai, Anthony LaRusso did very little but eat popsicles, demand waffles, and play video games. Somehow, this laid the groundwork for one of the show’s more subtly powerful character arcs. It’s possible that the character simply found his footing as the show grew, or it’s equally possible that the writers always had a longer plan for him. In any case, the final product is more nuanced than most viewers realized.
Anthony’s actor is Griffin Santopietro, who was born in Portland, Maine, on January 5, 2006. When you consider it, it’s kind of funny that a young New Englander spent years pretending to be the son of a car dealer in the San Fernando Valley who based his entire identity on California karate culture. Santopietro joined the show as a young child and, over the course of six seasons, underwent physical transformations in tandem with his character. By Season 5, he had grown taller than his on-screen sister Sam. It’s the kind of real-life detail that would have been nearly impossible for the show to script.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Character Name | Anthony LaRusso |
| Portrayed By | Griffin Santopietro |
| Actor’s Date of Birth | January 5, 2006 |
| Actor’s Hometown | Portland, Maine |
| Character’s Parents | Daniel LaRusso (Father), Amanda LaRusso (Mother) |
| Character’s Sibling | Samantha LaRusso (Older Sister) |
| First Appearance | Season 1, Episode 1 (“Strike First”) |
| Last Appearance | Season 6 (“Ex-Degenerate”) |
| Role in Season 1–3 | Minor recurring character |
| Role in Season 4 | Major antagonist / reformed character |
| Role in Season 5–6 | Supporting character |
| Character Trait (Early) | Tech-obsessed, spoiled, avoided karate |
| Key Action in Season 4 | Bullied Kenny Payne; was discovered and suspended |
| Turning Point | Apologized to Kenny after the All Valley tournament |
| Karate Dojo Joined | Miyagi-Do Karate (later trained at Cobra Kai also) |
| Mentor in Miyagi-Do | Robby Keene |
| Co-Sensei in Season 6 | Chozen Toguchi and Johnny Lawrence |
| Rival / Former Victim | Kenny Payne |
| Resolution with Kenny | Became friends after Devon’s laxative scheme was revealed |
| Notable Skill | Used video game strategy (Dungeon Lord) during Chozen’s training exercise |
| Physical Note | By Season 5, taller than his on-screen sister Sam |
| Irony in Storyline | Daniel LaRusso was a bully victim; his son Anthony became a bully |
| Notable Trivia | Anthony’s conception was described as unplanned by Daniel and Amanda |
| Favorite Drink | Yoo-Hoo (milk-based drink) |
| Gaming Devices Owned | PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch |
| Fan Reception | Mixed — praised for Season 5 redemption, criticized for early bullying |
The irony ingrained in Anthony’s plot from the start is one of the more intriguing aspects of him that is often disregarded. His father, Daniel LaRusso, rose to fame because he was the victim of bullying. His own son turned into the bully decades later. This point is not overly emphasized in the show, which is likely why it fails. Daniel displays a particular kind of disappointment that feels earned rather than performed when he learns that Anthony has been harassing Kenny Payne at school, stealing his clothes during gym class, and filling his locker with milk.
Anthony’s actions had actual repercussions, which distinguished him from other typical TV bully characters. After being singled out and humiliated by Anthony and his pals, Kenny Payne joined Cobra Kai in order to protect himself. No one could have predicted at the time how that choice would affect the remainder of the series. It’s uncommon for a supporting character’s misbehavior to significantly alter the main plot of the show, but that’s precisely what happened in this instance.
The show also touches on an aspect of Anthony’s psychology without going into too much detail: he was raised on tales about Mr. Miyagi but never got to know the man. In an open discussion with his father, Anthony acknowledges that while everyone else has strong emotions and vivid memories of Miyagi, he just doesn’t. He was too young. It’s a brief incident, but it helps to explain why Anthony always seemed a little cut off from the karate world his family inhabited. He was excluded by timing rather than being uninterested.
The pace of his redemption arc, which spans Seasons 4 and 5, feels deliberate rather than hurried. At the conclusion of Season 4, he quietly apologizes to Kenny in a locker room after witnessing his defeat in the competition. Kenny rejects it. Anthony carries the pain of that rejection into Season 5, joining Miyagi-Do more for self-preservation than for philosophical reasons. Because Cobra Kai students are truly ruining his life, he decides to learn karate. It’s a sincere incentive. One of the more intriguing aspects of his training is that he actually benefited from his video game instincts. During a group exercise, Anthony used a strategy from Dungeon Lord gameplay to protect the eggs and get his team through when Chozen challenged the students. It was successful.
Something had subtly changed by Season 6. A small but satisfying payoff occurs when Anthony casually blocks his father’s hand during a croissant argument at the breakfast table. Daniel’s natural reaction is to grab it back, but Anthony’s arm shoots up to deflect. Amanda and Daniel both pause, clearly taken aback. It conveys everything the character’s journey has been building toward in perhaps ten seconds of screen time.
It’s difficult to ignore the fact that Anthony never received the dramatic dojo speech or the major tournament spotlight. His development took place in smaller spaces, such as family kitchens, water parks, and hallways. He is still dismissed by some viewers as the pampered child who harassed a smaller person. And that criticism is fair—he did receive it, but he didn’t fully consider it at first. However, Griffin Santopietro carried it without making it feel like a performance, and the show eventually gave him enough space to do so. That is worth something.
