J. J. Johnston

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

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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

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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

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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

Awards

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  • 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

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  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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