Kenny Johnson

Kenneth Allen Johnson (born July 13, 1963) is an American actor, producer, and model. He is known for his roles as Detective Curtis Lemansky in The Shield, Butch "Burner" Barnes in Pensacola: Wings of Gold, Detective Ham Dewey in Saving Grace, Herman Kozik in Sons of Anarchy, Matt Webb in Prime Suspect, and Caleb Calhoun in Bates Motel. Johnson portrays Dominique Luca in the CBS drama series S.W.A.T.

For other people named Kenny Johnson, see Kenny Johnson (disambiguation).
Kenneth Johnson
Johnson in May 2007
Born
Kenneth Allen Johnson

(1963-07-13) July 13, 1963
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma materCentral Connecticut State University
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
  • model
Years active1990–present
Children1

Early life

Johnson was born in New Haven, Connecticut and was raised on a 30-acre farm in Weathersfield, Vermont.[1] For his college education, he attended Central Connecticut State University, where he played football and basketball.[2] Prior to starting his acting career, Johnson spent approximately four years modelling for agencies including Wilhelmina and Ford Models.[1] This path led to him living for a year in Boston, Massachusetts, before finally settling in Los Angeles, California, where he eventually found acting.[1]

Career

Johnson got his start in television commercials, including one of the first ads for LA Gear. A former champion arm wrestler, he appeared as bit characters in various television programs, such as Family Matters, Grace Under Fire, Caroline in the City, Pensacola: Wings of Gold, Sliders, 18 Wheels of Justice, Just Shoot Me!, NCIS: Los Angeles, Lie to Me, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Protector.

In 1998, he appeared in the first several minutes of the first Blade, as Heatseeking Dennis, who was saved from a vampire played by Traci Lords. In October 2005, he appeared in the Smallville season 5 episode "Mortal" as metahuman Tommy Lee. He also appeared in the 2006 Hallmark Channel original film Desolation Canyon, with Stacy Keach and Patrick Duffy. Johnson then starred in the 2005 film Zzyzx, a thriller about two friends who take a detour on their way to Las Vegas.

Johnson originally auditioned for the role of ill-fated Terry Crowley in The Shield, which ultimately went to Reed Diamond. Casting directors were so impressed with his audition that they asked Johnson to come in for the role of Curtis Lemansky. He was unsure of how to go about the character, as the role was not very developed at that point. During the audition, Johnson made some choices for the character that he initially thought ruined his chances of winning the role. However, the audition turned out to be successful and he was cast. Lemansky quickly became a major player in the first season because of the chemistry Johnson shared with his castmates.[3]

After The Shield, Johnson had recurring roles in Cold Case, first as a supposed murder victim, and later as a love interest for Lilly Rush. He was later cast in the TNT series Saving Grace, as Detective Hamilton "Ham" Dewey. Johnson also appeared during the second, third and fourth seasons of Sons of Anarchy as Sgt. At Arms and biker Herman Kozik. He also directed and starred in the short film I Heard the Mermaids Singing.

In August 2010, Johnson appeared in the Fox series Lie to Me, along with several fellow cast members from The Shield. In 2011, Johnson appeared in Lifetime's series The Protector, with fellow Sons of Anarchy co-star Ally Walker. Johnson also appeared as a regular in NBC's crime drama series Prime Suspect, playing the contractor boyfriend of the lead character, Detective Jane Timoney (Maria Bello).[4] Also in 2011, Johnson starred as Frank Connor, a convicted drug smuggler who leaves prison after 22 years for one youthful mistake, in Few Options. In 2012, he guest starred as Tyler Gray in the sixth season of Burn Notice,[5] and as Greg Marshall in the fourth season of The Mentalist.[6] That following year, Johnson portrayed U.S. Marshal Max Clayton in the eighth and final season of Dexter.[7]

Johnson appeared as Caleb Calhoun, the estranged brother of Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga), in the A&E drama-thriller series Bates Motel. He recurred in the second season, became a main cast member for the third season, and guest starred in the fourth and fifth seasons.[8] He was then a recurring cast member in the fifth season of Covert Affairs, playing former CIA paramilitary operative James Decker.[9] Johnson co-starred in the 2015 thriller film Solace. In August 2015, it was reported that Johnson would be part of the main cast for the second season of ABC's anthology series Secrets and Lies.[10]

As of autumn 2017, Johnson portrays Officer Dominique Luca in the CBS drama series S.W.A.T., based on the 2003 film of the same name, but the series also closely follows the original 1975-76 ABC series, also of the same name.[11] The show's theme, written by Barry DeVorzon, is also from the original ABC 1970s series and became a Billboard #1 hit for Rhythm Heritage in 1976.[12]

He married his long-term girlfriend, Cathleen Oveson on December 21, 2005. They have one child.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990The Forbidden DanceDave
1990MirageGreg
1995BushwhackedState Patrolman
1998Major League: Back to the MinorsLance Pere
1998BladeHeatseeking Dennis
2001Under Heavy FireJimmy Joe
2006 Desolation Canyon Reynolds
2006ZzyzxLou
2007The UngodlyOfficer Murphy
2008I Heard the Mermaids SingingAlShort film; also director
2011Few OptionsFrank ConnorAlso co-producer
2013Timmy Muldoon and the Search for the Shadoweyes BanditShotgun LennyVideo short
2015SolaceDavid Raymond
2015BlueDavid Murphy
2016Run the TideBo
2017Check PointRoy BoyleAlso producer

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Red Shoe DiariesTracer2 episodes
1993The WebbersChuckTelevision film
1993Family MattersGorgeous WaiterEpisode: "Walk on the Wild Side"
1994Grace Under FireSkipEpisode: "June 15, 1997"
1994Something WilderChadEpisode: "Love Native American Style"
1996Pacific BlueDekeEpisode: "Over the Edge"
1996Caroline in the CityBlairEpisode: "Caroline and the Ex-Wife"
1996The Big EasyGeorge StodermayerEpisode: "Stodermayer"
1996SlidersSlain SkaterEpisode: "The Dream Masters"
1996The Burning ZoneDr. Jake LietmanEpisode: "Blood Covenant"
1997Sins of the MindAndersPilot episode
1999Just Shoot MeBrian McDonaldEpisode: "The Odd Couple (Part 2)"
1999Ryan Caulfield: Year OneDetective Billy ZaboEpisode: "A Night at the Gashole"
1998–2000Pensacola: Wings of GoldButch "Burner" Barnes27 episodes
2001The HuntressKevin Styles2 episodes
200118 Wheels of JusticeSonnyEpisode: "Crossing the Line"
2002–2006The ShieldDetective Curtis Lemansky66 episodes
2002One on OneBrandonEpisode: "The Way You Make Me Feel"
2003BoomtownRobert "Bobby" CherryEpisode: "Haystack"
2005SmallvilleTommy LeeEpisode: "Mortal"
2006Desolation CanyonPress ReynoldsTelevision film
2006CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationRandy BolenEpisode: "Time of Your Death"
2006AquamanSheriffUnsold pilot
2006Cold CaseJoseph Shaw5 episodes
2007–2010Saving GraceDetective Ham Dewey46 episodes
2009–2011Sons of AnarchyHerman Kozik12 episodes
2010NCIS: Los AngelesTommy BoydEpisode: "Past Lives"
2010Lie to MeMalcolm HesslerEpisode: "Pied Piper"
2011–2012Prime SuspectMatt Webb13 episodes
2011Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDetective Sean RiggsEpisode: "Dirty"
2011The ProtectorDetective CummingsEpisode: "Help"
2012The MentalistGreg MarshallEpisode: "So Long, and Thanks for All the Red Snapper"
2012Burn NoticeTyler Gray3 episodes
2013DexterU.S. Marshal Max Clayton3 episodes
2014–2017Bates MotelCaleb Calhoun18 episodes
2014CastleMr. HardenEpisode: "In the Belly of the Beast"
2014MotiveDoug SlaterEpisode: "For You I Die"
2014–2015Chicago FireTommy Welch7 episodes
2014Covert AffairsJames Decker3 episodes
2016Secrets and LiesDanny Voss10 episodes
2017–presentS.W.A.T.Dominique LucaMain cast

References
Sources
Notes
  1. Fielding, Julien R. (October 27, 2011). "Kenny Johnson". Fielding on Film.
  2. Sikes, Rex (January 12, 2012). "Kenny Johnson – Actor". Milwaukee Magazine.
  3. "Rex Sikes' Movie Beat chats with actor Kenny Johnson of The Shield & Saving Grace". Blog Talk Radio.
  4. Rose, Lacey (July 21, 2011). "'Prime Suspect' Casts 'The Shield's' Kenny Johnson". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. Ng, Philiana (July 25, 2012). "'Burn Notice' Recruits 'Shield' Star for Season 6 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. Gelman, Vlada (April 12, 2012). "TVLine Items: Shield Vet Tapped as Mentalist Ex, Fox Doubles Up on Hell's Kitchen and More!". TVLine.
  7. Ausiello, Michael (May 11, 2013). "Dexter Exclusive: The Shield's Kenny Johnson Imposes Marshall Law on Season 8". TVLine.
  8. D'Alessandro, Anthony. "Comic-Con: Kenny Johnson Upped to Series Regular & Nicola Peltz Returns To 'Bates Motel'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  9. Ng, Philiana (August 19, 2014). "'Covert Affairs' Recruits 'The Shield' Star for Season 5 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. Iannucci, Rebecca (August 6, 2015). "Secrets and Lies Taps Shield Vet as Season 2 Murder Suspect". TVLine.
  11. Petski, Denise (March 1, 2017). "'S.W.A.T.': Lina Esco & Kenny Johnson Join CBS Drama Pilot Inspired By Movie". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. Billboard Charts Archives Online. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.