The One Tragedy That Changed Tory From Cobra Kai Forever

On "Cobra Kai," Peyton List plays one of the show's most complex characters. Tory Nichols might seem like a villain on the surface — after all, she did permanently scar her karate nemesis Sam LaRusso (Mary Mouser) by attacking her with that dangerous spiked bracelet. However, the troubled teen's tragic backstory helps explain why she embraces the Cobra Kai philosophy: "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy."

Viewers eventually learn that Tory's life forced her to be tough. Her mother has a chronic illness, so it's up to her to provide for the family and make sure the rent gets paid. Later on, her boyfriend Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) almost loses his life during the big school brawl that she started, leaving her racked with guilt. After they break up, she hardens her heart even more. The way Tory handles adversity might be questionable, but there are plenty of moments that paint her in a more sympathetic light. "She really taught me a lot about my own life," List told Women's Wear Daily of her experience playing Tory. "I remember coming back and feeling like a new person."

List's own life has been shaped by loss and tragedy, but the way it impacted her was much different. Instead of getting angry and lashing out when she was dealt a major blow, she decided to do something to make a difference.

Before she played tough girl Tory Nichols on "Cobra Kai," Peyton List portrayed a much different character on the Disney Channel series "Jessie." Emma Ross was used to enjoying the finer things in life, and she had no clue what it was like to fight for everything she had. She also had a much sweeter disposition than Tory. Her mischievous younger brother Luke was played by Cameron Boyce. The onscreen siblings became so close that they developed a real-life familial bond. "Cameron is so chill!!" List tweeted in 2012. "I think of him like I do one of my brothers!"

List was shocked and saddened in 2019 when she learned that Boyce had died at age 20 after suffering an epileptic seizure, per People. In a moving Instagram tribute to her friend, she remembered Boyce's "contagious laugh" and described the profound impact he had on her. "He was younger than me but taught me how to spread love and kindness more than anyone that has ever been in my life," her post read. She also vowed to "never stop talking" about Boyce. "There is a hole in my heart that will never heal left for you," she wrote. 

She further opened up about her grief during a March Yahoo! Life interview. List recalled asking herself, "What the hell is life worth, a beautiful person is gone? Why should I keep on going because he was such a better person than me?"

Peyton List stayed true to her word by taking action to ensure that Cameron Boyce's "legacy would live on." In December 2020, she filmed a video promoting the Cameron Boyce Foundation's "Give Me $5" campaign. The foundation is a nonprofit that Boyce's parents created after his death. It raises money for causes that were important to the actor, like finding a cure for epilepsy and stopping gun violence (via The Hollywood Reporter). List told Yahoo! Life that becoming involved with the foundation helped her during the painful grieving process.

List also did her part to keep her friend's memory alive by talking about some of the good times they shared together during an April 2020 Zoom reunion with her "Jessie" co-stars on the web series "Stars in the House." She described Boyce as "an amazing soul and person" and fondly reminisced about attending school with him on the set of the show. "He would teach me something every day," she said. 

Boyce also had to play the role of teacher while he and List were filming one of her favorite episodes of "Jessie." It called for their characters to dance together in a salsa competition, and List apparently had two left feet. "He worked with me and was so patient with me," she recalled. "He would work with me until everybody else went home." His hard work must have paid off because now she's capable of learning some crazy choreo for "Cobra Kai."