| J. J. Johnston | |
| Birth Name: | James William Johnston |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 24 October 1933 |
| Occupation: | Actor, writer, historian |
| Yearsactive: | 1972–2018 |
J.J. Johnston (born James William Johnston, October 24, 1933 – November 4, 2022) was an American theatre and film actor, boxing historian and writer.
Johnston served eighteen months in prison for drug-related offenses before turning to acting.[1]
Johnston died on November 4, 2022, at the age of 89.[2]
Johnston, a former amateur boxer, was the author of several books on the history of boxing.
Johnston performed in the original 1975 production of David Mamet's American Buffalo in Chicago and subsequently performed in the 1983 Broadway production opposite Al Pacino.[3]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Beware! The Blob | Deputy Kelly Davis | ||
| 1978 | Towing | Butch | ||
| 1981 | Whose Life Is It Anyway? | Guard | ||
| 1987 | Penitentiary III | Announcer #1 | ||
| 1987 | Fatal Attraction | O'Rourke | ||
| 1987 | The Principal | Will | ||
| 1987 | Weeds | Lazarus | ||
| 1988 | Stars and Bars | The Doorman | ||
| 1988 | Things Change | Frankie | ||
| 1988 | 976-EVIL | Virgil | ||
| 1989 | An Innocent Man | Joseph Donatelli | ||
| 1991 | Queens Logic | Joey "Clams" | ||
| 1991 | Homicide | Jilly Curran | ||
| 1991 | JFK | Joe, Mobster with Broussard | ||
| 1993 | Mad Dog and Glory | Shanlon | ||
| 1994 | Body Shot | Magruder | ||
| 1994 | Desert Steel | Buck Edwards | ||
| 1994 | Stranger by Night | Bobby's Father | ||
| 1994 | The Fence | Railroad Worker #1 | ||
| 1995 | Above Suspicion | Hank | ||
| 1996 | Wings | Mr. DeCarlo | Episode: "Driving Mr. DeCarlo" | |
| 1996 | Married... with Children | Drill Instructor | Episode: "T*R*A*S*H" | |
| 1997 | The Spanish Prisoner | The Doorman | ||
| 1998 | Simon Says | Mr. Sands | ||
| 1999 | K-911 | Tommy "Fat Tommy" | ||
| 2000 | Fallen Arches | Stuart | ||
| 2000 | Lakeboat | Stan | ||
| 2000 | State and Main | The Stationmaster | ||
| 2000 | The Prime Gig | Lloyd | ||
| 2001 | Dead Man's Run | Detective #1 | ||
| 2001 | The King of Queens | Chic | Episode: "Papa Pill" | |
| 2002 | Hitters | Nano | ||
| 2004 | Spartan | Night Club Manager | ||
| 2004 | A Lousy Ten Grand | Roy | ||
| 2005 | Break a Leg | Detective Coyle | ||
| 2008 | Redbelt | The Ring Announcer |