Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the staunch Morse Fowler in "The Persuader" (1957). Born John Johnson, he began his career working as a leading man in stock companies. He was introduced to director Gordon Duff during a dinner party at the prestigious Sardi's Restaurant. Impressed by his slim appearance, articulate voice, and dark good looks, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry, beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role on an episode of "The Philco Television Playhouse". From there, he would go on to enjoy a successful career as a notable character actor appearing in over 110 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, boyfriends, politicians, retail clerks, businessmen, bankers, neighbors, landlords, curmudgeons, doctors, lawyers, white-collared workers, cowboys, sheriffs, policemen, educators, aristocrats, druggists, mailmen, waiters, doormen, farmers, bailiffs, reporters, detectives, judges, and wealthy bachelors. He appeared in such feature films as "Invasion of the Saucer Man" (1957), "A Hatful of Rain" (1957), "The Three Faces of Eve" (1957), "I Want to Live!" (1958), "The Lost Missile" (1958), "Arson for Hire" (1959), "Seven Ways from Sundown" (1960), "Strange Compulsion" (1964), "Fireball 500" (1966), "If He Hollars, Let Him Go!" (1968), and "Hollywood Horror House" (1970). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such series as "Musical Comedy Time," "Treasury Men in Action," "Hallmark Hall of Fame," "Gang Busters," "Fireside Theatre," "Robert Montgomery Presents," "Highway Patrol," "The Lone Ranger," "Playhouse 90," "Lux Video Theatre," "Studio 57," "26 Men," "State Trooper," "Hotel de Paree," "Overland Trail," "Cheyenne," "The Twilight Zone," "One Step Beyond," "Death Valley Days," "Mister Ed," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "Bus Stop," "Lassie," "Perry Mason," "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Mission: Impossible," "Medical Center," "The Waltons," "Wonder Woman," and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, had been one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the American Lung Association. After appearing in what would be his final role in the made for television movie "Kill Me If You Can" (1977), Johnson, who never married nor fathered any children, died unexpectedly from complications of a stroke.