R. Brandon Johnson
Encyclopedia
R. Brandon Johnson is an American
actor
and TV host. He currently co-stars as dance show host Gary Wilde on the Disney Channel
original series Shake It Up
.
on the ABC
Daytime series One Life To Live
in 2003, playing the role until 2004. Johnson returned to the series in 2007 and in 2008 in the recurring role of Chuck Wilson III, later also playing the character's father Chuck Wilson, Jr. in a 1968 flashback storyline. Johnson appeared in 3 episodes of the Disney Channel
original series Hannah Montana
as Brian Winters, the quirky host of a fictional series called Singing with the Stars. The role was a parody of American Idol
host Ryan Seacrest
. His feature film credits include The Notorious Bettie Page
starring Gretchen Mol
, the comedy Rick
starring Bill Pullman
and lead roles in the horror films Malevolence
and Little Erin Merryweather, which was an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival
.
Johnson has many credits as a television host. He first broke onto the scene as the host of the entertainment show Cool In Your Code
, which was shot entirely on the streets of New York City
and was nominated for 18 New York Emmy Awards
and won 4. He was also the host of HGTV
's Get Out, Way Out!, FOX
Soccer Channel's Fox Soccer USA, G4TV's Formula D
and Outdoor Life Network's Rally America. Currently, he can be seen as one of the hosts of USA Network
's dream-fulfillment series Character Fantasy. Johnson also currently co-stars on the Disney Channel
comedy series Shake It Up
as Gary Wilde, the host of the fictional dance show Shake It Up, Chicago!.
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree in theatre. Johnson is also an accomplished drummer
; he is one of the founding members of the alternative rock
band Ill Rocket, as well as a member of The Progress, Pelt, Touch Is Automatic, Yellow No. 5 and The Duncan Bleak Ensemble.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and TV host. He currently co-stars as dance show host Gary Wilde on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
original series Shake It Up
Shake It Up (TV series)
Shake It Up is an American television sitcom airing on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on November 7, 2010. Created by Chris Thompson and starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, the show follows the adventures of Cece Jones and Rocky Blue as they star as background dancers on...
.
Career
R. Brandon Johnson got his first big break on the small screen playing the recurring character Dr. Michael McBainMichael McBain
Dr. Michael McBain is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting:The role was originated by R. Brandon Johnson in November 2003, with Nathaniel Marston stepping in on February 16, 2004 and ultimately leaving on November 29, 2007. On January 9, and January 10, 2007, Robert...
on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Daytime series One Life To Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
in 2003, playing the role until 2004. Johnson returned to the series in 2007 and in 2008 in the recurring role of Chuck Wilson III, later also playing the character's father Chuck Wilson, Jr. in a 1968 flashback storyline. Johnson appeared in 3 episodes of the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
original series Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
as Brian Winters, the quirky host of a fictional series called Singing with the Stars. The role was a parody of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
host Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
. His feature film credits include The Notorious Bettie Page
The Notorious Bettie Page
The Notorious Bettie Page is a 2005 American biographical film directed by Mary Harron. The screenplay by Harron and Guinevere Turner focuses on 1950s pinup and bondage model Bettie Page.-Plot:...
starring Gretchen Mol
Gretchen Mol
Gretchen Mol is an American actress and former model. She is known for her roles in films like Rounders, Celebrity, 3:10 to Yuma, The Thirteenth Floor,and The Notorious Bettie Page, where she played the title character...
, the comedy Rick
Rick (film)
Rick is a 2003 movie based on Verdi's opera Rigoletto. Rick stars Bill Pullman and Aaron Stanford. It is directed by Curtiss Clayton and written by Daniel Handler.-Plot summary:...
starring Bill Pullman
Bill Pullman
William James "Bill" Pullman is an American film, television, and stage actor. Pullman made his film debut in the supporting role of Earl Mott in the 1986 film Ruthless People. He has since gone on to star in other films, including Spaceballs, Independence Day, Lost Highway, Casper and Scary Movie 4...
and lead roles in the horror films Malevolence
Malevolence (film)
-Synopsis:A woman and her daughter had been kidnapped by a bunch of bank robbers who have decided to stay the night in a house in the middle of nowhere...
and Little Erin Merryweather, which was an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Johnson has many credits as a television host. He first broke onto the scene as the host of the entertainment show Cool In Your Code
Cool In Your Code
Cool In Your Code is a television show on nyctv, New York City's Public-access television channel, as well as on sister station WNYE-TV. The show profiles various ZIP codes in New York City with the tagline "It's the city, unzipped." The show has won three regional Emmys.Shortly afterward, a...
, which was shot entirely on the streets of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was nominated for 18 New York Emmy Awards
New York Emmy Awards
The New York Emmy Awards are a division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honoring those in television and advanced media in the New York Metro Area and parts of Connecticut...
and won 4. He was also the host of HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
's Get Out, Way Out!, FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
Soccer Channel's Fox Soccer USA, G4TV's Formula D
Formula D
Formula DRIFT or Formula D is the premier United States drifting series. Formula Drift, Inc. was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that brought D1 Grand Prix to the United States. The new entity would solely own,...
and Outdoor Life Network's Rally America. Currently, he can be seen as one of the hosts of USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's dream-fulfillment series Character Fantasy. Johnson also currently co-stars on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
comedy series Shake It Up
Shake It Up (TV series)
Shake It Up is an American television sitcom airing on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on November 7, 2010. Created by Chris Thompson and starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, the show follows the adventures of Cece Jones and Rocky Blue as they star as background dancers on...
as Gary Wilde, the host of the fictional dance show Shake It Up, Chicago!.
Personal life
R. Brandon Johnson was born in Bloomington, MinnesotaBloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire is a public liberal arts university located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and has an annual enrollment of more than 10,000 students...
with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
degree in theatre. Johnson is also an accomplished drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
; he is one of the founding members of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Ill Rocket, as well as a member of The Progress, Pelt, Touch Is Automatic, Yellow No. 5 and The Duncan Bleak Ensemble.