Who is the Chinese actor in karate kid with spiky hair?

You're likely thinking of Jackie Chan in the 1984 film "The Karate Kid". While he wasn't in the original American "Karate Kid" starring Ralph Macchio, he starred in a similar film titled "The Karate Kid" (also known as "The Big Brawl") in 1984.

In Jackie Chan's film, he plays a character named "Kwai", who has a very distinct spiky hairstyle and utilizes his martial arts skills to defend himself and others.

It's a common misconception to think that Jackie Chan was in the American "Karate Kid," as both films were released in the same year and both were very popular.