Anthony Johnson (actor) explained

Birth Date:1966 2, mf=yes
Birth Place:Compton, California, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Active:1982–2019
Spouse:Lexis Jones Mason
Children:3
Medium:Stand-up, film, television
Genre:Comedy, observational comedy, satire, improvisational comedy, blue comedy

Anthony Johnson (February 1, 1966[1] – September 6, 2021), sometimes credited as A. J. Johnson, was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as "Ezal” in the 1995 comedy film Friday.

Career

Born in Compton, California, his father Eddie Smith was a stuntman and a co-founder of the Black Stuntmen's Association. Johnson had credited his father for helping him enter the film industry, by getting him to work in film productions. He had also credited the comedian Robin Harris for helping him earlier on in his career as a stand-up comedian and giving him another chance even when he was jeered for his bad performance.[1] [2]

Johnson began acting in his early twenties. In 1990, he landed a starring role as E.Z.E. in House Party, after which he started doing stand-up in bars in Los Angeles. He later appeared in Lethal Weapon 3 as a drug dealer and in Menace II Society. His biggest role was in the 1995 comedy Friday, as Ezal, a crackhead and thief. He also appeared in Panther, The Players Club, B*A*P*S, I Got the Hook-Up,[3] Def Jam's How to Be a Player and Repos, and in rap videos: in Dr. Dre's "Dre Day" (1992), he played Sleazy-E, a parody of Eazy-E, and he appeared again as Sleazy-E in the video for Eazy-E's "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (1993), this time being assaulted.[4]

Personal life

Johnson was married to Lexis Jones Mason and the couple had three daughters.[5] He also had two siblings: a brother named Edward Smith, and a sister named Sheila.[6]

In July 2009, it was reported that Johnson had a heart attack at LaGuardia Airport while on his way to a comedy show.[7] However, Johnson said in 2018 that it was instead a panic attack.[8]

Johnson died on September 6, 2021, aged 55, at a Los Angeles County hospital,[1] after being found unresponsive in a store.[9] His death was publicly announced on September 20 by his representative LyNea Bell.[6] Johnson died of multi-system organ failure stemming from chronic ethanol (alcohol) use according to his autopsy report. It also stated that he had contracted COVID-19 but was asymptomatic.[10] [11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Puss in BootsField HandsTV movie
1990House Party[12] [13] E.Z.E.
1992Lethal Weapon 3Drug Dealer
1993Menace II SocietyTony
1994House Party 3Butcher
1995Panther[14] [15] Tony
Friday[16] Ezal
1996The Great White HypeSultan's Valet
1997B*A*P*SJames
How to Be a PlayerSpootie
Hoover ParkChris
1998The Players ClubL'il Man
WooDoorman
I Got the Hook-UpBlue
Dark AngelesDrug Dealer / Attorney
1999Rising to the TopJailer #2Video
FoolishHimselfVideo
2000Hot BoyzPee WeeVideo
Baller Blockin'Himself
2001ODell
2002On the EdgeHank Conrad
2003Sweet HideawayCoach
2004Roscoe's House of Chicken n WafflesRoscoeVideo
Hittin' It!Cousin E
2006ReposTick TackVideo
2015Office StaffAJTV movie
2016Undercover PrincessesDolph Thomas
2017CandyLollipop
20185K1Wash Manager
Hey, Mr. Postman!Cousin Tino
ConsequencezDetective
2019I Got The Hook Up 2Blue
The DummyO.G.B.C Hype Man
Shorty Betta Go 2 Work - Grandma Huttie's BoyfriendGold GrillzShort

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989The Bold and the BeautifulCaterer #2Episode: "Episode #1.579"
1993-97MartinClyde / LaFonne2 Episodes
1994Def Comedy JamHimselfTV series
South CentralThug on the BusEpisode: "Gun: Part 1"
1995The Parent 'HoodTreEpisode: "Welcome Back, Robert"
1996MoeshaG-DogEpisode: "Niece"
1997Malcolm & EddieFree Willie2 Episodes
The Jamie Foxx ShowLil Loc DogEpisode: "Super Face Off"

Notes and References

  1. News: Anthony Johnson, Actor Known for 'Friday,' Dies at 55. Jesus. Jiménez. The New York Times. September 20, 2021. September 20, 2021. limited.
  2. News: Actor Anthony Johnson, Of 'Friday' Fame, Dead At 55. Anna. Weaver. KSBY. September 21, 2021. September 21, 2021.
  3. Web site: Kevin L. Clark . Where Are They Now?: The Cast Of Friday: Anthony (A.J.) Johnson . Hip-Hop Wired . April 28, 2014 .
  4. Web site: Cinema: Anthony Johnson (actor) . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706233059/http://www.in.com/anthony-johnson-actor/biography-316214.html . dead . July 6, 2015 . In.com . October 6, 2016 .
  5. News: RIP Anthony 'A.J.' Johnson: GoFundMe Launches As Fans Mourn Latest 'Friday' Star To Die. NewsOne. September 20, 2021. September 20, 2021. Morris. Bilaal.
  6. Web site: Anthony "A.J." Johnson Dies: 'Friday', 'House Party' Actor & Comedian Was 55. Deadline Hollywood. September 20, 2021. September 20, 2021. Evans. Greg.
  7. News: Smokey Fontaine . AJ Johnson Resting Comfortably After Heart Attack . The Urban Daily . July 31, 2009 .
  8. News: Kevin . Morris . Exclusive: AJ Johnson on Having Panic Attack on Plane in 2009, Plane Had to Land . VladTV . October 18, 2018 . 20 September 2021 .
  9. News: Anthony 'A.J.' Johnson, 'Friday' and 'House Party' actor, dies at 55. Los Angeles Times. September 20, 2021. September 20, 2021. D'Zurilla. Christie.
  10. News: Ali . Rasha . 'Friday' actor Anthony Johnson died of natural causes stemming from 'chronic ethanol use' . 9 February 2022 . USA TODAY.
  11. Web site: 'Friday' Actor Anthony "AJ" Johnson's Cause Of Death Revealed. Vibe. February 9, 2022. Mya Abraham. February 11, 2022.
  12. Web site: Anthony Johnson. American Film Institute. September 21, 2021.
  13. Web site: Anthony Johnson – Filmography. Turner Classic Movies. September 21, 2021.
  14. Web site: A.J. Johnson. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528122213/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba8ce6633. dead. May 28, 2018. British Film Institute. September 21, 2021.
  15. Web site: A.J. Johnson List of Movies and TV Shows. TV Guide. September 21, 2021.
  16. Web site: Anthony Johnson. Rotten Tomatoes. September 21, 2021.