Michelle Johnson (actress)

Michelle Johnson (born September 9, 1965) is an American actress, perhaps best known for her role as Jennifer Lyons in the 1984 romantic comedy film Blame It on Rio.

Michelle Johnson
Born (1965-09-09) September 9, 1965
Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMichelle Williams
OccupationActress
Years active1984–2004
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 2002)​

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to mother Faye, a nurse, and father Don, who owned a furniture store.[1] At age four, Johnson and her mother relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where her mother married child psychologist Dr. Grant Johnson.[1] Johnson attended Alhambra High School from 1979 through 1983, graduating one semester early in January 1983.

Career

At age 16, Johnson began doing fashion print work and was soon signed by the Wilhelmina agency in New York City.[1] Director Stanley Donen spotted her in a photograph in the fashion biweekly W,[1] and just as her modeling career was beginning, chose her to act in his feature film Blame It on Rio instead. Since she was 17 at the time, she required permission from a judge to appear topless in the film.

Johnson appeared in a number of roles over the next 15 years. She appeared in theatrical films, television movies, and television series, including a recurring role for one season of The Love Boat. She appeared in films Gung Ho (1986), Waxwork (1988), and The Glimmer Man (1996). She also co-starred in TV movie Dallas: War of the Ewings in 1998 as Jennifer Jantzen, and in 1985 played Rhonda Cummings in an episode of Dallas.

Since 2000, Johnson has starred in only one film, Mickey (2004). Other than occasional paparazzi photos, she had since remained out of the public eye until returning to acting briefly in the digital media Christmas special Brat Holiday Spectacular (2018).

Personal life

From January 15, 1999 through July 2002, Johnson was married to Major League Baseball player Matt Williams, of the Phoenix-based Arizona Diamondbacks.[2][3] They resided primarily in Scottsdale, Arizona.[3]

Johnson sold her house in West Hollywood, California, in April 2009 for a reported sum of $4.1 million. The house was near the Sunset Strip, in a celebrity-populated neighborhood.[4]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Blame It on RioJennifer Lyons
1986Gung HoHeather DiStefano
1987Beaks: The MovieVanessa Cartwright
1988The Jigsaw MurdersKathy DaVonzo
Slipping Into DarknessCarlyle
WaxworkChina Webster
1990Wishful ThinkingDiane
Trabbi Goes to HollywoodRicki
1992Death Becomes HerAnna
Dr. GigglesTamara
Far and AwayGrace
Street WarsTina
1993Body ShotDanielle Wild/Chelsea Savage
1995Illicit DreamsMelinda Ryan
The DonorDr. Lucy Flynn
When the Bullet Hits the BoneLisa
1996The Glimmer ManJessica Cole
SpecimenSarah
1997Inner Action
Moving TargetCasey
1999RevengeVicky Mayerson
2004MickeyPatty
2018Brat Holiday Spectacular Nellie (Eleanor Chambers)

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Hotel Kelly Branden Episode: "Flesh and Blood"
1985 Dallas Rhonda Cummings Episode: "The Verdict"
1985 Half Nelson Linda Sawyer Episode: "The Deadly Vase"
1984-1985 The Love Boat Kim Carlisle 7 episodes
1987 Werewolf Kelly Nichols Episode: "Pilot"
1987 Charles in Charge Joyce Episode: "Her Brother's Keeper"
1989 Moonlighting Michelle Hunziger Episode: "Plastic Fantastic Lovers"
1989 Moonlighting Michelle Hunziger (uncredited) Episode: "Shirts and Skins"
1991 Blood Ties Celia tv movie
1991 Tales from the Crypt Liz Kelly-Dixon Episode: "Split Second"
1992 A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story Linda Kolkena Broderick tv movie
1992 Murder, She Wrote Monica Chase Episode: "Incident in Lot 7"
1992 Melrose Place Perry Morgan Episode: "For Love or Money"
1992 Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter Linda Broderick TV movie
1993 Melrose Place Perry Morgan Episode: "The Test"
1993 Murder, She Wrote Janet Fisk Episode: "Ship of Thieves"
1993 Herman's Head Aurora Episode: "Trouble in Paradise"
1994 Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills Lisa TV movie
1994 Terror at Deception Ridge Natalie Harris TV movie
1996 The Outer Limits Ady Sutton Episode: "First Anniversary"
1998 Dallas: War of the Ewings Jennifer Jantzen TV movie

References
  1. Evans, Hilary (March 12, 1984). "Newcomer Michelle Johnson Raises Eyebrows—and Temperatures—in Blame It on Rio". People. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  2. Pearlman, Jeff (2001-10-29). "Best supporting actress". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  3. "Matt Williams' actress-wife seeks divorce". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. 2002-07-16. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  4. Beale, Lauren (April 16, 2009). "Michelle Johnson sells Sunset Strip-area home for $4.1 million". Chicago Tribune.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.