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Who is Kenny Johnson?
American actor and model Kenny Johnson was born in New Haven, Connecticut USA, on 13 July 1963, making Cancer his zodiac sign. He has 65 acting credits, but is perhaps still known best for playing Detective Curtis Lemansky in 66 episodes of the popular crime thriller series “The Shield”, which starred Catherine Dent and Michael Chiklis, and was created by Shawn Ryan. It follows a corrupt police officer Vic Mackey, the series aired from 2002 through 2008 and won 15 of its 76 award nominations.
Education and early life
Kenny was raised on a farm in Weathersfield, Vermont by his mother and father about whom he hasn’t shared many details, because he respects their privacy; he’s also yet to speak about having siblings, so most of his fans believe him to be an only child.
Kenny studied at a local high school in Weathersfield, and was into a number of activities during his time there; he was mostly into sports, and played for the school’s basketball and football teams.
He matriculated in 1981, and then enrolled at Central Connecticut State University, at which he continued playing sports, and from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1986; Kenny spent the following four years working as a model, and was signed to both Ford Models and Wilhelmina. He then moved to Los Angeles, California in pursuit of acting.
Roles in movies
Kenny’s debut film role was playing Dave in the 1990 romantic musical “The Forbidden Dance”, and some of his following roles were in the 1990 action horror thriller “Mirage”, the 1993 adventure comedy “At Hoe with the Webbers”, and the 1995 adventure crime comedy “Bushwhacked”.
In 1998, he played Lance Pere in the popular sports comedy “Major League: Back to the Minors”, which starred Corbin Bernsen and Scott Bakula, and was written and directed by John Warren. It follows an aging baseball manager who’s begun working for a bad minor league team, and the movie won only a single award. The remainder of the ‘90s saw Kenny appear in two movies: the drama “Archibald the Rainbow Painter” and the critically acclaimed action science fiction horror “Blade”, both in 1998.
In 2001, he played Jimmy Joe in the war action “Under Heavy Fire”, and the year 2006 saw him star as Sheriff in the action adventure “Aquaman”, which also starred Lou Diamond Phillips and Justin Hartley, and was directed by Greg Beeman. It follows a diver in his 20s who’s just learned that he can breathe underwater. Kenny was then cast to appear in the 2006 western “Desolation Canyon”, the 2007 crime horror thriller “The Perfect Witness” and the 2008 short romantic drama “I Heard the Mermaids Singing”.
In 2015, he played David Raymond in the crime mystery “Solace”, which starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Anthony Hopkins, and was directed by Alfonso Poyart. It follow psychic John Clancy as he’s helping the FBI catch a serial killer, and the movie won only a single award.
Some of Kenny’s most recent film roles have been in the 2017 action war thriller “Check Point”, the 2021 horror “Howl”, and the 2023 drama “Nine Ball”.
Roles in TV series
Kenny’s debut TV series role was playing Ray Minotta in 10 episodes of the 1992 soap opera “Santa Barbara”, and the same year saw him play Tracer in the episode “Accidents Happen” of the romantic drama “Red Shoe Diaries”.
He appeared in an episode of many series in the ‘90s, and what marked the decade for him was perhaps portraying Burner in 27 episodes of the action “Pensacola”, which starred Michael Trucco and James Brolin, and was created by William Blinn. It follows the members of an elite marine force, and the series was nominated for one award.
Kenny started off the 2000s by appearing in an episode of the crime action “The Huntress”, the crime action “18 Wheels of Justice” and the comedy “One on One”. From 2007 through 2010, he played Ham Dewey in all 46 episodes of the fantasy “Saving Grace”, which starred Leon Rippy and Holly Hunter, and was created by Nancy Miller. It follows an angel as she’s visiting a police detective, and the series won five of the 23 awards for which it was nominated.
Kenny went on to play supporting characters in the 2011 crime thriller “Sons of Anarchy”, the 2012 crime thriller “Prime Suspect”, and the 2016 crime mystery “Secrets and Lies”. From 2014 through 2017, he played Caleb Calhoun in the mystery horror “Bates Motel”, which starred Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, and was created by Anthony Cipriano. It’s a prequel to the critically acclaimed 1960 movie “Psycho”, and the series won six of its 73 award nominations.
Since 2017, Kenny’s been starring as Officer Dominique Luca in the action crime adventure “S. W. A. T.”, appearing in all its 129 episodes. It also stars Alex Russell and Shemar Moore, and follows members of a S. W. A. T. team; the series has been nominated for nine awards, including four Primetime Emmys.
Miss my SWAT familylot. But Luca & Germany are busy training. Great job this last Wednesday. We appreciate you fans so much !! Thanks for tuning in this week. I’ll get back. Soon. @swatcbs pic.twitter.com/5XQVAZ8RCk
— Kenny Johnson (@TheKennyJohnson) December 11, 2020
Other credits
Kenny directed the 2008 short romantic movie “I Heard the Mermaids Singing”, and he produced the 2011 crime drama film “Few Options, All Bad”, the 2016 short science fiction movie “No Stranger Pilgrims”, and the 2017 action war thriller film “Check Point”.
Some of his recent talk-show appearances have been in “Entertainment Tonight”, “SWAT on Set” and “Hellblazerbiz”.
Awards and nominations
Kenny’s won three awards: in 2008 the Great Lakes Film Festival Artistic Excellence Award for Best Narrative Short and Park City Film Music Festival Silver Medal for Excellence, both for “I Heard the Mermaids Singing”, and a 2021 Broadstairs International Filmmakers Festival Award for Best Actor of an English Language Film, for “Howl”.
Love life and wife
Kenny speaks rarely about his love life in public, however, we still know that he’s today both a father and a husband.
He and American actress Cathleen Oveson were together for close to a decade prior to exchanging vows in a small and private ceremony on 21 December 2005, and she gave birth to their daughter Angelica Scarlet on 7 May 2009. Cathleen has three acting credits: she played Hostess in the 2001 war action movie “Under Heavy Fire”, Gina in the 2007 episode “Spanish Practices” of the crime thriller series “The Shield”, and Detective in the 2010 episode “I’m Gonna Need a Big Night Light” of the fantasy “Saving Grace”.
There are no other women whom Kenny’s been with, that we know about; he’s married to Cathleen Oveson as of July 2023, and they have a daughter together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Close to 450,000 people are following Kenny on Instagram today, and he’s posted nearly 2,200 pictures and videos onto the network, with most of these showing him during his everyday life.
He suffered unspecified injuries while shooting the first episode of the second season of “S. W. A. T.” on 18 July 2018; he was to hold onto a helicopter’s landing gear while it flies away, and Kenny then sued the company Sony, while the case was settled in February 2023.
He’s dyslexic, and reading is one of the hardest things for him to do; he usually remembers his lines by having someone read them to him.
Kenny was a competitive arm wrestler until quitting in 1995.
Some of his closest friends are Casper Van Dien, Walton Goggins and Michael Chiklis, all popular actors.
Edward Norton’s one of his favorite actors, and some of his favorite movies include “Motherless Brooklyn”, “Fight Club” and “American History X”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Kenny’s 60 years old. He has brown eyes and blonde hair, is 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall and weighs around 180lbs (82kgs).
Kenny’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of July 2023.
