Rodney Van Johnson 19??–

Actor

From Athlete to Actor

Began With Small roles

Role Model For Son and Others

Sources

Though it’s been ten years since he took the plunge into acting, Rodney Van Johnson has been making a steady climb in his career. A former world class track-and-field athlete and Olympics qualifier, he is probably best known for his portrayal of First Lieutenant Wendell McCray in the television series Pensacola: Wings of Gold and as Trey Stark in the long-running daytime soap The Young and the Restless.He is also featured in NBC’s Passions, a one-hour soap launched in July of 1999.

Johnson was an advertising sales account executive in Florida in 1991 when he set his birthday—February 20—as the beginning of his full-time commitment to acting. “I went from a big salary to no salary,” he said in a quote from the website of the Pensacola series, “and it felt good.” Now he says he is “in this business for the rest of my life.”

From Athlete to Actor

Rodney Van Johnson was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son, the grandson, and the nephew of a preacher. Although he feels himself to be a religious man, that would not be his career choice. Johnson attended the Landmark Christian School in Cincinnati, graduating in 1979. Landmark describes itself as an institution dedicated to Christian families who are concerned about the education of their children.

After graduation, Johnson entered the University of Cincinnati, earning a B.S. in education. In an interview with Contemporary Black Biography, Johnson said that he considered becoming a teacher. “It’s certainly a highly respected profession, and very important…but unfairly low paid.” During his college years, he became involved in track and field, setting several school records and qualifying for the 1984 Olympic trials. “At that time,” he told CBB, “I was the fastest in the world!” During the trials, he qualified for the 100-meter dash, but injured his hamstring on the high jump qualifier. Still figuring he had a good chance for the dash, he attended the next meet only to find that his hamstring injury was more serious than first thought. He did not make the team.

With Olympic hopes gone, Johnson went to Florida where he spent seven years selling television advertising. After moving to Tampa, he became the advertising

At a Glance…

Born Rodney Van Johnson, February 20, 19??, in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of a preacher; son, Quincy, born 1999, with girlfriend Carmen Obando. Education: University of Cincinnati, B.S., education.

Career: Television advertising sales rep, WTMV-TV, WFTS-TV; actor; appeared on: Mad About You, 1992;Grace Under Fire, 1993;Jamie Foxx Show, 1996, 1997;Pensacofa: Wings of Fire, 1997;Young and the Restless, 1998;Port Charles, 1999;Passions, ! 999-; films include:Blood Brothers, Dominic’s Castle, Rumors, and Making the Rules.

Addresses: Passions Productions, 4024 Radford Ave., Suite 240, Studio City, CA 91604.

sales account executive at WTMV-TV and WFTS-TV. Although his career was growing in that field, acting was always in the back of his mind. That led to his 1991 decision to quit advertising and join acting full time. He confessed to a certain push in that direction, however, when he acted in a TV ad for Kentucky Fried Chicken and earned $70, 000 after one spot.

However, it was a case of easy-come, easy-go. Johnson soon headed for California with no agent, no job prospects, and a fast-dwindling bank account. He even admitted to living in his car and taking a shower at the local YMCA for a time. But he wouldn’t give in. “I could easily have called home for help anytime, but that wasn’t the way I was raised. I knew I was better than that. I knew I could make it happen,” he said in Soap Opera Digest. “And I kept thinking, ‘I have to get this right before my mother finds out,’” he continued.

Began With Small roles

Johnson did get it right. In 1992 he landed a small part as a park ranger is an episode of the popular TV sitcom Mad About You.The following year he was a traffic cop in another sitcom, Grace Under Fire.He also played in two episodes of the Jamie Foxx Show in 1996 and 1997.

In 1997 Johnson became a regular on the popular TV series Pensacola: Wings of Gold, starring James Brolin. As a Marine lieutenant colonel, Brolin’s task was to turn four talented but different young people into an elite task force. Johnson was First Lieutenant Wendell McCray, a prankster who survived the tough streets of Detroit and lived only to succeed in his career and take care of his six-year-old son back home. Johnson played McCray as a man in control of his surroundings and doing his job. He was also, according to Johnson, “the baddest guy on the team.”

When Pensacola ended, Johnson entered the popular world of soap operas. In 1998 he joined The Young and the Restless as Trey Stark, the villainous character manager of songstress Callie. Johnson was quoted as saying in Soap Opera Digest, “You don’t want to cross this guy.” A real-life tragedy occurred during Johnson’s tenure on the show. Michelle Thomas, the actress who played Callie, died of cancer. “It just blew me away,” Johnson recalled to Soap Opera Digest.

Sebastian Dupre on the TV series Port Charles in 1999 was a nice change of roles for Johnson. This time he played a romantic lead. However, the script killed off Dupre in a lingering three-day death, taking Johnson’s job with it. Not long afterward, NBC tapped him to play T.C.Russell on their new soap, Passions.

Passions, a soap with supernatural themes and created by veteran soap writer James Reilly of Days of Our Lives, is set in the fictitious New England town of Harmony. It centers on four multigenerational core families. Two are white, one is Hispanic, and one is black. The Russells consist of Dad (Johnson), mother, and two daughters. Dad is a somewhat hot-tempered high school athletic coach whose pro career ended after a mysterious accident. Johnson told Soap Opera Digest he doesn’t always know what makes T.C. angry, but he enjoys playing him.

Role Model For Son and Others

Rodney Van Johnson especially liked the idea of playing a father on Passions.His own son was due to be born on the same day in July that the soap premiered, but Quincy arrived instead on June 17, 1999. His mother is Johnson’s longtime girlfriend Carmen Obando. The three make their home in Los Angeles. “He [son] put my life in perspective. I didn’t know the meaning of life until he came along. He was the turning point. I had to give him guidance, be a role model for him,” he told CBB.Johnson also felt that he should be a role model for other minority young people who dream about entering show business.

In addition to his successful television career, Johnson has appeared in such movies as Blood Brothers, Dominic’s Castle, Rumors, and Making the Rules.But what he really has his eye on is an Oscar. He hoped that won’t be too long in coming. “I want to earn roles that will not compromise my integrity as an actor,” he said in an Upscale. “And be something that my son can look back on and be proud of,” he continued. In addition to showing versatility as an actor, Johnson told CBB he wants to produce and direct because in that way he feels that an actor “has more stability and power.”

Sources

Periodicals

Soap Opera Digest, June 3, 1999, May 29, 2000, August 29, 2000, September 2000.

Upscale, May 2000.

Other

Additional information was obtained from Landmark Christian School, on-line at www.pensacolatv.com, Internet Movie Database, www.imdb.com, and a personal interview with Contemporary Black Biography.

—Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden