Kenny Johnson
Encyclopedia
Kenneth "Kenny" Johnson (July 13, 1963, New Haven, Connecticut
) is an American actor
well known for his portrayal of Detective Curtis Lemansky
on the American drama The Shield
and Detective "Ham" Dewey on Saving Grace
.
, Johnson got his start in television commercials, including one of the very first ads for LA Gear
. A former champion arm wrestler
, he appeared as bit characters in various television programs, such as Family Matters (TV series)
, Grace Under Fire, Caroline in the City
, Pensacola: Wings of Gold
, Sliders
, 18 Wheels of Justice, Just Shoot Me!
, NCIS:Los Angeles, Lie To Me
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
and The Protector.
In 1998, he appeared in the first several minutes of the first Blade
, as Heatseeking Dennis, who was saved (by Blade) from a vampire played by Traci Lords
. In October 2005, he appeared in the Smallville
Season 5 episode "Mortal
" as a metahuman called Tommy Lee. He also appeared in the 2006 Hallmark Channel
original movie, Desolation Canyon
, with Stacey Keach and Patrick Duffy
and starred in the 2005 indie film Zzyzx
, a thriller about two friends who take a detour on their way to Las Vegas.
After The Shield
, Johnson had recurring roles on Cold Case, first as a supposed murder victim, and later as a love interest for Lilly Rush. He was later cast in the TNT series Saving Grace
, as Det. Hamilton "Ham" Dewey. Kenny also appeared during the second, third and fourth(Fall 2011) seasons of Sons of Anarchy
as Sgt. At Arms and biker named Herman Kozik from the Tacoma chapter. He also starred in the short film I Heard the Mermaids Singing.
On August 16, 2010, Johnson appeared in Fox TV's Lie To Me
along with several fellow cast members from The Shield
(Benito Martinez
, Catherine Dent
, David Rees Snell
, Cathy Cahlin Ryan
, and David Marciano
).
Kenny's latest film is "Few Options, All Bad (2011)" where he is cast as Frank Connor, a convicted drug smuggler who leaves prison after 22 years for one youthful mistake.
On June 19, 2011, Johnson appears in Lifetime TV's series The Protector along with fellow Sons of Anarchy cast mate Ally Walker.
Kenny can currently be seen on NBC's new crime drama Prime Suspect
, which premiered September 22, 2011, playing the contractor-boyfriend of the shows lead character, Detective Jane Timoney (Maria Bello
).
. Casting directors were so impressed with the audition that they asked him to come in for the role of Lemansky. Johnson was unsure of how to go about the character, who wasn't very much developed at that point. During the audition, Johnson made some choices for the character that he initially thought ruined his chances of winning the role. However, the audition turned out to be successful and he was cast. Lemansky quickly became a major player in the first season because of the chemistry Johnson shared with his castmates.
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
) is an American actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
well known for his portrayal of Detective Curtis Lemansky
Curtis Lemansky
Curtis Lemansky, more commonly known as "Lem" or "Lemonhead", is a fictional police detective on the FX original drama The Shield, played by actor Kenny Johnson.-Personal life:Little is known about Lemansky's personal life...
on the American drama The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
and Detective "Ham" Dewey on Saving Grace
Saving Grace (TV series)
Saving Grace is an American television crime drama series which premiered on TNT on July 23, 2007 and ran until June 21, 2010. The show stars Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter in her first television series, as well as Leon Rippy, Kenny Johnson, Laura San Giacomo, Bailey Chase, Bokeem Woodbine,...
.
Early career
Born Kenneth Allen Johnson in New Haven, Connecticut but raised in VermontVermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Johnson got his start in television commercials, including one of the very first ads for LA Gear
LA Gear
LA Gear is an American shoe company based in Los Angeles, California. It is owned by ACI International.-Early days:L.A. Gear was founded by Boston-born Robert Y. Greenberg in 1979 to market and rent roller skates in Venice Beach. In 1985 after finding that less than 20 percent of athletic shoes...
. A former champion arm wrestler
Arm wrestling
Arm wrestling is a sport with two participants. Each participant places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other's hand...
, he appeared as bit characters in various television programs, such as Family Matters (TV series)
Family Matters (TV series)
Family Matters is an American sitcom about a middle-class African-American family living in Chicago, Illinois, which ran on national television for nine full seasons. The series was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, but revolves around the Winslow family...
, Grace Under Fire, Caroline in the City
Caroline in the City
Caroline in the City is an American situation comedy that ran from September 21, 1995 to April 26, 1999 on the NBC television network. It starred Lea Thompson as cartoonist Caroline Duffy. The series premiered in the two-hour Thursday night block led by Friends.-Premise:Caroline Duffy is a...
, Pensacola: Wings of Gold
Pensacola: Wings of Gold
Pensacola: Wings of Gold is a syndicated American action/adventure drama series based at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. Episodes aired in several countries outside the US including Portugal, France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, Hungary and Australia...
, Sliders
Sliders
Sliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
, 18 Wheels of Justice, Just Shoot Me!
Just Shoot Me!
Just Shoot Me! is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC from March 4, 1997 to August 16, 2003, with 148 episodes produced. The show was created by Steven Levitan, the show's executive producer.-Description:...
, NCIS:Los Angeles, Lie To Me
Lie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
and The Protector.
In 1998, he appeared in the first several minutes of the first Blade
Blade (film)
Blade is a 1998 vampire superhero action horror starring Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff, loosely based on the Marvel Comics character Blade. The film was directed by Stephen Norrington and written by David S. Goyer. Blade grossed $70 million at the U.S. box office, and $131.2 million worldwide...
, as Heatseeking Dennis, who was saved (by Blade) from a vampire played by Traci Lords
Traci Lords
Traci Lords , also known as Traci Elizabeth Lords and Tracy Lords, is an American film actress, producer, film director, writer and singer...
. In October 2005, he appeared in the Smallville
Smallville (TV series)
Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October...
Season 5 episode "Mortal
Smallville (Season 5)
Season five of Smallville, an American television series, began airing on September 29, 2005. The series recounts the early adventures of Kryptonian Clark Kent as he adjusts to life in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman...
" as a metahuman called Tommy Lee. He also appeared in the 2006 Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
original movie, Desolation Canyon
Desolation Canyon
Desolation Canyon is a 2006 Hallmark Channel television movie starring Stacy Keach and Patrick Duffy. The western film was written by Dan Fitzsimons and directed by David S. Cass Sr.-Plot:...
, with Stacey Keach and Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy
Patrick George Duffy is an American character actor of stage and film. He is best known for his role on the CBS television drama Dallas, where he played Bobby Ewing from 1978 to 1985 and from 1986 to 1991, Duffy returns to reprise his role as Bobby in a new up-to-date Dallas currently scheduled to...
and starred in the 2005 indie film Zzyzx
Zzyzx (film)
Zzyzx is a thriller set in the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas. The film was written by Art D'Alessandro, produced and directed by Richard Halpern, and stars Kenny Johnson, Robyn Cohen, Ryan Fox, and Kayo Zepeda.-Plot:...
, a thriller about two friends who take a detour on their way to Las Vegas.
After The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
, Johnson had recurring roles on Cold Case, first as a supposed murder victim, and later as a love interest for Lilly Rush. He was later cast in the TNT series Saving Grace
Saving Grace (TV series)
Saving Grace is an American television crime drama series which premiered on TNT on July 23, 2007 and ran until June 21, 2010. The show stars Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter in her first television series, as well as Leon Rippy, Kenny Johnson, Laura San Giacomo, Bailey Chase, Bokeem Woodbine,...
, as Det. Hamilton "Ham" Dewey. Kenny also appeared during the second, third and fourth(Fall 2011) seasons of Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
as Sgt. At Arms and biker named Herman Kozik from the Tacoma chapter. He also starred in the short film I Heard the Mermaids Singing.
On August 16, 2010, Johnson appeared in Fox TV's Lie To Me
Lie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
along with several fellow cast members from The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
(Benito Martinez
Benito Martinez (actor)
Benito Martinez is an American actor most known for his role as police captain David Aceveda in FX Networks' acclaimed crime drama The Shield...
, Catherine Dent
Catherine Dent
Catherine Dent is an American actress who has starred in film and in television. Her first feature film was the 1994 movie Nobody's Fool....
, David Rees Snell
David Rees Snell
David Rees Snell is a television actor cast as Detective Ronnie Gardocki, on the FX Networks' crime drama The Shield.When The Shield was picked up by FX, Snell was initially hired as a supporting cast member on the show...
, Cathy Cahlin Ryan
Cathy Cahlin Ryan
Cathy Cahlin Ryan is an American actress best known for playing the character of Corrine Mackey on the police drama The Shield.A native of Miami, Florida, Ryan has appeared in several television productions such as Numb3rs, Judging Amy, Family Matters, Monk, The Unit, Severence Pay, Roseanne:...
, and David Marciano
David Marciano
David Marciano is an American actor who appeared as Detective Raymond Vecchio in the television series Due South...
).
Kenny's latest film is "Few Options, All Bad (2011)" where he is cast as Frank Connor, a convicted drug smuggler who leaves prison after 22 years for one youthful mistake.
On June 19, 2011, Johnson appears in Lifetime TV's series The Protector along with fellow Sons of Anarchy cast mate Ally Walker.
Kenny can currently be seen on NBC's new crime drama Prime Suspect
Prime Suspect (U.S. TV series)
Prime Suspect is an American police procedural television drama series that premiered on NBC on September 22, 2011. It stars Maria Bello as Detective Jane Timoney. The series is a "re-imagining" of the British series by the same name. The series was created by Lynda La Plante and was redeveloped by...
, which premiered September 22, 2011, playing the contractor-boyfriend of the shows lead character, Detective Jane Timoney (Maria Bello
Maria Bello
Maria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club, Permanent Midnight, Thank You for Smoking, A History of Violence, Payback, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. For television she is known for her role as Dr...
).
The Shield
Johnson originally auditioned for the role of ill-fated Terry Crowley, which ultimately went to Reed DiamondReed Diamond
Reed Edward Diamond is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Det. Mike Kellerman on Homicide: Life on the Street and the role of recurring character Laurence Dominic on Dollhouse...
. Casting directors were so impressed with the audition that they asked him to come in for the role of Lemansky. Johnson was unsure of how to go about the character, who wasn't very much developed at that point. During the audition, Johnson made some choices for the character that he initially thought ruined his chances of winning the role. However, the audition turned out to be successful and he was cast. Lemansky quickly became a major player in the first season because of the chemistry Johnson shared with his castmates.