Wil Johnson
Wil Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wilbert Charles Johnson 18 April 1965 Muswell Hill,London,England |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | Waking the Dead Babyfather Emmerdale |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75m) |
| Spouses | Alexandra Spiegel
(m.2001;div.2010)Camilla Johnson (m.2014) |
| Children | 6 |
Wilbert Charles Johnson(born 18 April 1965) is an English actor, who has had notable television roles inWaking the DeadandBabyfather,and on stage inOthello.He playedDom AndrewsinEmmerdalefrom 2012 to 2014.
Early life
[edit]Johnson was born inMuswell Hill, London,and raised inTottenham.[1]His mother invested in stocks and his father worked forUPS.[2]Johnson had no interest in music while he was in primary school, but after he filled in a role for an absent drummer, he changed his mind.[3] He went toMountview Drama SchoolinCrouch End,London. He also joined another drama group at the Haringey Theatre. He also went to a dance group and learnedballet,contemporary dancing,andbreak dancing,which he performed for about seven years. He also attendedNational Youth Theatrefor three years.[1]
Career
[edit]Johnson's first professional acting role came in the playFour Seasonsat the 1985Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[2]For the rest of the 1980s he made minor appearances in television series such asCasualtyandLondon's Burning,before playing detective Stevie Johnson in theLondon Weekend TelevisionseriesAnna Lee.From 1994 to 1995 he played the supporting role of Detective Constable Michael Skelton inCracker.Between roles, Johnson worked for a local undertakers, driving the hearse and acting as a pallbearer.[citation needed]
In 2000, he appeared in theBBC Onetelevision pilotWaking the Dead,as Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan, a member of a specialised police unit tasked with investigating "cold cases".Waking the Deadreturned for a complete series in 2001, and Johnson was a main cast member until the series ended in 2011. From 2000 to 2002, he appeared as Steve Robinson inPaul Abbott's popular drama seriesClocking Off.From 2001 to 2002, he appeared as a main cast member in two series of the BBC'sBabyfather.[4]
In 2004, Johnson played the title character in theRoyal Lyceum Theatre Company'sOthello.
He also played Marcus Kirby in the BBC One school-based dramaWaterloo Road.He departed in the second half of the series.
In 2010, he appeared inIn a Better World(film) as 'Dr. Najeeb'.[5]
He also performed in a play, calledThe Swallowing Darkat theLiverpool PlayhouseandTheatre503.In 2011, he also starred as gangster Boss Big Mike inAnuvahoodand in 2008 as Big Man inAdulthood
In November 2011, Johnson appeared as 'Sean Dolan' a Consultant paediatrician in BBC One'sHolby City.[5]
In 2012, it was announced that Johnson would be joiningEmmerdaleas single fatherDominic "Dom" Andrewsin the later part of the year. On 23 February 2014, it was announced that he would be leaving the show later that year following the death of his character's daughter,Gemma(Tendai Rinomhota).[6]
In 2013, he appeared as a gangster in a film thriller calledLife Outside.[5]He also was a special guest DJ at a 'MonologueSlam' event (actors showcase) at 'The Green Carnation' cocktail lounge,Soho.[7]
In 2013, he also co-produced with Christian Ashaiku a film calledDisorientated Generation(about a Nigerian man living in London). The film was partially funded byEnfield Council,[1]with a small grant fromUK Film Council.The film was originally shot in 2006.[8]
In 2016, Johnson was cast as the Earl of Kent in theTalawa Theatre CompanyandRoyal Exchange Manchesterco-production ofKing Lear.[9]Johnson received praise for his performance, withThe Guardianwriting"giving depth to straight simplicity"[10]and the Manchester Theatre Awards saying that"... wrongest servant Kent is played with passion and often with humour by Wil Johnson".[11]
In 2016, Johnson received theBritish Urban Film Festivalhonorary award from fellow actorCharles Vennfor 30+ years outstanding contribution to film and television.
He is an advocate ofcolour-blind castingin British television:
There are a lot more black and Asian actors who the nation knows by name, which is fantastic [...] [Colour-blind casting] happens regularly in theatre, but in mainstream television it could be implemented a lot more. I'm tentative to use the word 'stereotyping', because a lot of the black roles emerging on television I wouldn't categorise as stereotypical: my role inWaking the Deadcertainly wasn't.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Johnson has six children.[2]His eldest daughter is composer, singer, songwriter and cellistAyanna Witter-Johnson.[13]
Johnson married his wife Camilla in 2014.
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Director / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hidden Treasure | Luke | |
| 2008 | Adulthood | Big Man | Noel Clarke |
| 2010 | In a Better World | Dr Najeeb | Susanne Bier |
| 2010 | Pimp | Byron | Robert Cavanah |
| 2011 | Anuvahood | Big Mike | Adam Deacon |
| 2013 | Life Outside | Charles | Martin J. Thomas |
Television
[edit]| Year | TV Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Casualty | Bit part | |
| 1988 | London's Burning | Bit part | |
| 1994 | Anna Lee | Stevie Johnson | |
| 1994–1995 | Cracker | Detective Constable Michael Skelton | |
| 2000–2011 | Waking the Dead | Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan | Final episode was on 11 April 2011 |
| 2000–2002 | Clocking Off | Steve Robinson | |
| 2001–2002 | Babyfather | Beres | |
| 2010–2011 | Waterloo Road | Marcus Kirby | Series 6 |
| 2011–2012 | Holby City | Sean Dolan | Plays a Consultant paediatrician |
| 2012–2014 | Emmerdale | Dominic Andrews | |
| 2014–present | Outlander | Joe Abernathy | |
| 2016 | Hollyoaks | Lionel Albright | 2 episodes; PlayedJade'sandSonia'sfather |
| 2018 | Vera | Gary Whenchutch | 1 episode |
| 2022 | House of the Dragon | Vaemond Velaryon |
References
[edit]- ^abcEluka, Clare (12 October 2013)."Interview Wil Johnson".thepromota.co.uk.Retrieved4 February2014.
- ^abcStaff (15 May 2009). "Since I started singing on YouTube I've thought of nothing else...".Evening Telegraph(Coventry Newspapers): pp. 30–31.
- ^Peake, Jon (30 June 2001). "Dead not buried".The Sun(News Group Newspapers): p. 15.
- ^"Babyfather".bbc.co.uk.BBC Drama. October 2008.Retrieved4 December2013.
- ^abc"Wil Johnson – (In A Better World – 2010)".mattjhorn.wordpress. 6 September 2011.Retrieved26 February2013.
- ^Kilkelly, Daniel (25 October 2012)."'Emmerdale' announces four new characters ".digitalspy.co.uk.Retrieved1 April2014.
- ^"Wil Johnson special guest DJ for Welcome 20th July".triforcepromotions.co.uk.Retrieved7 December2013.
- ^Morris, Davina (25 April 2010)."different face of black British film-making".jamaica-gleaner.Retrieved26 February2013.
- ^"Full casting announced for King Lear at Royal Exchange".Retrieved11 February2017.
- ^Brennan, Clare (10 April 2016)."King Lear review – two Lears acting up a storm".The Guardian.Retrieved11 February2017.
- ^"King Lear".Retrieved11 February2017.
- ^Green, Chris (25 February 2008). "'Why TV makes me depressed'".The Independent(Independent News & Media): p. 4.
- ^Grant, Dionne (8 February 2014)."Ayanna Witter-Johnson: String sensation | The Voice Online".The Voice Online.Retrieved10 December2021.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1965 births
- English male film actors
- English male stage actors
- English male soap opera actors
- Black British male actors
- Living people
- Male actors from London
- Actors from the London Borough of Haringey
- National Youth Theatre members
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- People from Muswell Hill
- People from Tottenham