As Cobra Kai fans bid farewell to the hit Netflix series with its sixth and final season, star Jacob Bertrand is leaning into a new chapter — one shaped by the influence of his longtime girlfriend and fellow actor, Peyton List.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Bertrand, 24, opened up about List’s role as both his muse and motivator as he explores opportunities beyond acting, including writing and directing his first short film. “She’s the person who was really pushing me to direct and write,” said Bertrand, who plays fan-favorite Hawk in the Karate Kid sequel series. “She’s my muse … probably tired of me telling her all my ideas, so she finally said, ‘Just do it!’”
The couple, who have been dating since 2020 after meeting through mutual industry connections, share a parallel trajectory as former child actors. Bertrand began his career at age 7 with an Oscar Mayer commercial, later starring in Nickelodeon’s Bubble Guppies and Disney’s Kirby Buckets. List, 26, rose to fame on Disney’s Jessie and its spinoff Bunk’d, while balancing roles in films like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise.
“She’s the hardest working person on planet Earth,” Bertrand said of List. “It’s hard not to catch that spunk. She’s on the cover of every magazine but stays so grounded. We both have good parents — that’s the key in this industry.”
Bertrand’s pivot behind the camera comes as Cobra Kai wraps its six-season run, which he calls “bittersweet.” The series, a continuation of the 1980s Karate Kid films, became a cultural phenomenon after moving to Netflix in 2020, revitalizing the careers of original stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka while launching its younger cast into the spotlight.
Reflecting on his start, Bertrand shared a serendipitous origin story: His mother, unfamiliar with Hollywood, mailed Christmas cards with family photos to child agents. One responded, calling him “weird enough looking” for commercials. A debut in a Nickelodeon series later cemented his passion. “Older actors took me under their wing,” he recalled. “That’s when I fell in love with acting.”
While Bertrand will miss the Cobra Kai ensemble, he’s optimistic about the future. “We hang out all the time,” he said of the cast. As for List, her impact endures: “She gives me confidence to be as creative as I can be.”
All six seasons of Cobra Kai are now streaming on Netflix.
