J. J. Johnston
Born
James William Johnston

(1933-10-24)October 24, 1933
DiedNovember 4, 2022(2022-11-04) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, historian
Years active1972–2018

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]

Books

Johnston, a former amateur boxer, was the author of several books on the history of boxing.

  • Babyface and Pop, with Nick Beck (2011)
  • Chicago Boxing (Images of Sports), with Sean Curtin and David Mamet (2005) ISBN 978-0-7385-3210-3
  • Chicago Amateur Boxing (Images of Sports), with Sean Curtin (2006) ISBN 978-0-7385-4138-9

Stage work

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]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1972Beware! The BlobDeputy Kelly Davis
1978TowingButch
1981Whose Life Is It Anyway?Guard
1987Penitentiary IIIAnnouncer #1
1987Fatal AttractionO'Rourke
1987The PrincipalWill
1987WeedsLazarus
1988Stars and BarsThe Doorman
1988Things ChangeFrankie
1988976-EVILVirgil
1989An Innocent ManJoseph Donatelli
1991Queens LogicJoey "Clams"
1991HomicideJilly Curran
1991JFKJoe, Mobster with Broussard
1993Mad Dog and GloryShanlon
1994Body ShotMagruder
1994Desert SteelBuck
1994Stranger by NightBobby's Father
1994The FenceRailroad Worker #1
1995Above SuspicionHank
1996WingsMr. DeCarloEpisode: "Driving Mr. DeCarlo"
1996Married... with ChildrenDrill InstructorEpisode: "T*R*A*S*H"
1997The Spanish PrisonerThe Doorman
1998Simon SaysMr. Sands
1999K-911Tommy "Fat Tommy"
2000Fallen ArchesStuart
2000LakeboatStan
2000State and MainThe Stationmaster
2000The Prime GigLloyd
2001Dead Man's RunDetective #1
2001The King of QueensChicEpisode: "Papa Pill"
2002HittersNano
2004SpartanNight Club Manager
2004A Lousy Ten GrandRoy
2005Break a LegDetective Coyle
2008RedbeltThe Ring Announcer

Awards

  • 1983-84 New York Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent in "American Buffalo"
  • 1986 Bay Area Critics Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actor in the play Glengarry Glen Ross.

References

  1. Pasts Imperfect New York Daily News (October 14, 1987)
  2. "Special Issue 2023". SAG-AFTRA Magazine. p. 87. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  3. Dettmer, Roger. "'Buffalo' only fragments of the intended". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. Retrieved April 1, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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