| Punkie Johnson | |
| Birth Name: | Jessica Williams |
| Birth Date: | April 29, 1985 |
| Birth Place: | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Education: | Nicholls State University (BA) |
| Years Active: | 2015–present |
Jessica Williams (born April 29, 1985),[1] known professionally as Punkie Johnson, is an American comedian and actress based in New York City and began her career as a stand-up comedian at The Comedy Store in California. Johnson is best known for being a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live for four seasons, joining its 46th season in 2020 and leaving in 2024 after its 49th season.[2]
Johnson, born Jessica Williams, was raised by her mother, Mary Johnson, in New Orleans, Louisiana, attending Catholic and public schools. She graduated in 2003[1] from McDonogh 35 High School.[1]
Johnson studied at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where she graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies.[1]
Johnson began her career as a stand-up comedian. She later joined The Comedy Store in Los Angeles as a paid regular.[3] In 2019, Johnson performed at Just for Laughs.[4]
As an actress, Johnson has appeared in various television series such as Space Force, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Corporate, and Adam Ruins Everything.[5] [6]
In 2020, Johnson was cast as a featured player on Saturday Night Live, starting in its forty-sixth season. She was promoted to repertory status in 2022 before the beginning of the 48th season. Johnson is the eighth black female cast member in the show's history, the second black LGBT woman to be a cast member (following Danitra Vance, who was not publicly out during her lifetime), and the seventh LGBT cast member overall.[5] [6] [7] [8] On Thursday, August 1st, 2024, after four years of being a cast member, it was announced that Johnson will not be returning to the show. Her final episode aired on May 18th, 2024, with host Jake Gyllenhaal.[9]
Johnson is a lesbian as well as identifying with the queer community. She and her wife had been partnered since 2002,[4] but in a 2022 episode of the podcast Films To Be Buried With she revealed she was in the middle of divorce proceedings and had since begun a new relationship.[10] In a 2021 interview with NBC News, Johnson affirmed her LGBTQ identity, stating: "I'm just this little lesbian chick from New Orleans who is just enjoying life doing comedy".[11]
| + Film | Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Lot | Punkie | Short film | |
| 2020 | Sixteen Thousand Dollars | Jo'Nique | Short film | |
| 2020 | The Adventures of Whit | Detective | Short film | |
| 2023 | Bottoms | Rhodes |
| + Television | Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Take My Wife | Episode: "Episode 205" | ||
| 2018 | Adam Ruins Everything | Ava | Episode: "Adam Ruins Guns" | |
| 2019 | Corporate | Taylor the Tattoo Artist | Episode: "The Fall" | |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Dance Biter | Episode: "Angela Bassett Is the Baddest Bitch" | |
| 2019 | Crank Yankers | Shasta | Episode: "Jimmy Kimmel, Kathy Griffin & Jeff Ross" | |
| 2020 | Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers | Herself | ||
| 2020 | Space Force | Staff Sergeant Kiki Rhodes | Episode: "Space Flag" | |
| 2020–2024 | Saturday Night Live | Various characters | Repertory cast member | |
| 2021 | Love Life | Ida Watkins | Supporting role (season 2) | |
| 2022 | Ghosts | Ally | 2 episodes |