The well-received reimagining of The Karate Kid movies by Robert Mark Kamen has firmly established itself as one of Netflix’s leading series. The fourth season of the Karate TV series Cobra Kai became available on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.
Who Was Albert Olmstead in ‘Cobra Kai’?
Albert played a role in the camera and electrical department of the show. Interestingly, his job title seemed to reflect his personality – best boy. Prior to his involvement in Cobra Kai, he contributed to some of Hollywood’s most thrilling productions.
Albert’s character can almost be discerned by the projects he was part of, such as Sleepy Hollow, Stranger Things, Atlanta, The Walking Dead, and Creepshow.
Gaten Matarazzo, known for his role as Dustin on Stranger Things, posted a poignant homage to Albert on his Instagram in July 2021. He expressed his love and thoughts for the Olmstead family. Although he didn’t have a personal relationship with Albert, he learned about him through anecdotes from friends and family.
He added, “He exemplifies the incredible and extensive community required to create a show like this. What a radiant smile.” He also shared a GoFundMe page for Albert’s family.
Cause of Albert Olmstead’s Passing
Albert Olmstead passed away on July 19, 2021, following a tragic accident in his Atlanta residence.
Albert’s passing was profoundly shocking and heartbreaking. According to reliable sources, upon returning home from work on July 19, 2021, he promptly commenced repairing a leak near his garage.
His brother-in-law Scott Wachtel explained that it was when a retaining wall suddenly collapsed, entrapping him underneath the rubble. Albert was not working on that wall, which makes the accident even more bewildering.
Scott elaborated, “The garage door was closed, and there was a van parked right there [in front of the garage], so he couldn’t flee in this direction [towards the garage], and he couldn’t move in this direction [away from the garage] because the remainder of the wall was collapsing over here, so he had nowhere to go.”
Albert’s wife, Que Omstead, was alerted by a neighbor, and they made desperate attempts to shift the cinder blocks. Firefighters also struggled and even tried using a car jack to dislodge the blocks, but to no avail.
Albert was 38 years old when he succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind his wife, four step-children, and one child with Que. Scott mentioned that Albert was their support and “he catered to their requirements and prioritized their needs, be it emotional or financial support, and everything.” His family continues to cherish who Albert was in life, knowing that his influence persists, despite his departure.
Albert Olmstead Was a Devoted Family Man
Albert Olmstead was a husband and father. According to his Facebook page, his wife is named Que Olmstead. He also posted several pictures of himself and his wife on social media. They tied the knot on July 4, 2018.
Why was Albert Olmstead Honored in Cobra Kai Season 4 Title Card?
The seventh episode of season four commemorates Albert Omstead with a title card, “Albert Omstead 1982-2021 in memoriam.” However, not many people know that Albert worked in the camera and electrical department of the show.
Albert Olmstead passed away in July 2021 in Georgia while he was attempting to fix a leak that was flooding his basement when the wall collapsed on him.
Cobra Kai Emerged as the Most Popular Show on Netflix
Albert Olmstead was a significant contributor to Cobra Kai season 4. This show has become the most-watched program on Netflix just days after its fourth season was released on New Year’s Eve. The comedy-drama series, which continues the Karate Kid franchise, secured the top spot on the global Top 10 English TV Shows charts.
The series pays homage to the ’80s movie tropes that inspired it, featuring adolescent drama juxtaposed with unexpectedly intense youth-on-youth altercations. It aims to be a comforting nostalgic watch with meticulously choreographed fight sequences, rather than striving to be a highbrow television production.
The publication also disclosed that viewers collectively spent 120.06 million hours watching the show. Notably, the program surpassed both The Witcher and Emily In Paris, both of which recently debuted their sophomore seasons. Meanwhile, the most-viewed movie was Don’t Look Up, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, amassing 152.29 million hours of viewership.
Cobra Kai premiered in 2018, with its first and second seasons initially airing on YouTube Red. The series revolves around the escapades of Johnny Lawrence, portrayed by William Zabka, a character from the original Karate Kid film. His involvement in an ever-growing rivalry with his former adversary Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio, and numerous other figures from the franchise is a central theme of the show.
Cobra Kai’s cast includes Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand, and Mary Mouser, among others. The series also features several familiar faces from the Karate Kid franchise, such as Martin Kove and Thomas Ian Griffith. Upon its debut, Cobra Kai resonated with audiences, and its inaugural season currently holds a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, Cobra Kai’s fourth season premiered on Netflix this past New Year’s Eve and swiftly captivated viewers. The latest episodes revolved around a conflict between the combined students of Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang and the followers of a co-opted Cobra Kai.