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James Austin Johnson

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James Austin Johnson
James Austin Johnson smiling at the camera.
Johnson in 2022
Born (1989-07-19) July 19, 1989 (age 35)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
Years active2009–present
Children1[1]

James Austin Johnson (born July 19, 1989),[2][3] occasionally known by his initials, JAJ, is an American comedian and actor. Johnson is currently a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live, which he joined as a featured player for the show's 47th season in 2021. On SNL, he has impersonated both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Johnson was promoted to a repertory player in 2023.[4]

Early life

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Johnson was born in Nashville, Tennessee. As a child, he appeared in various productions by Lifeway Christian Resources.[5] He began performing stand-up comedy as a teenager.[6][7] He attended Davidson Academy and graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2011. Johnson regularly performed at open mics in Nashville before moving to Los Angeles in 2013.[8][9]

Career

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Johnson began his acting career starring in independent Christian films.[5]

He has appeared in television series such as Adam Ruins Everything, Better Call Saul, and All Rise.[10] In 2016, he appeared in a DirecTV television ad alongside National Football League veteran Peyton Manning.[11]

In August 2020, Johnson's impression of President Donald Trump went viral in a video uploaded to Twitter, amassing over one million views.[5]

In 2021, Johnson was cast as a featured player on Saturday Night Live, alongside fellow newcomers Aristotle Athari and Sarah Sherman, for its forty-seventh season.[12][13] During the season premiere cold open, he portrayed President Joe Biden[14] and later portrayed former President Trump beginning in the season's fifth episode. Johnson was promoted to repertory status in 2023.[4]

In March 2024, Deadline announced Johnson had been cast in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic film A Complete Unknown.[15] Johnson voiced the character Pouchy in the 2024 Pixar animated film Inside Out 2.[16]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 October Baby Truman
2012 Blue Like Jazz Drunk Freshman
2014 Rocket Pack Jack and the Babylon Virus Krane
2016 Hail, Caesar! Studio Assistant at Action Western
2022 She Said Donald Trump Voice
2024 Inside Out 2 Pouchy Voice[16]
2024 A Complete Unknown TBA Filming[15]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Alumni Jeffry Television film
Coffeeteria Barrett Klausman Miniseries
2015 Adam Ruins Everything Farmer Jed Episode: "Adam Ruins Summer Fun"
2016 The Last Tycoon Movie Theater Usher Episode: "Pilot"
2017–2020 Future Man Young Gabe Futturman 2 episodes
2018 Better Call Saul Fred Whalen Episode: "Winner"
2019 All Rise Adam Connolly Episode: "How to Succeed in Law Without Really Re-Trying"
2020 Kwaczala Dennis (Glenn) Episode: "I am a Lion"
Robbie Ninja Turtle Episode: "Robbie vs. Ava vs. Danielle"
2021 Tuca & Bertie Kyle Voice; 2 episodes
Squidbillies Pharmacy Man Voice; Episode: "One Man Banned"
2021–present Saturday Night Live Various characters
2022 Fairview Wade Moonman, Pastor Marv Voice; recurring role
2022 The G Word Various characters
Birdgirl Ed Todd/Kaptain Khaos Voice; Episode: "With a K"
2023 Barry Pastor #2 Voice; Episode: "the wizard"
2024 John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA Bob Dylan Voice; Episode: "Helicopters”[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Saturday Night Live Star Welcomes New Baby with Adorable Instagram Post".
  2. ^ Rodgers, D. Patrick (July 25, 2022). "James Austin Johnson on Old Nashville, SNL and Trump". Nashville Scene. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "JAMES AUSTIN JOHNSON: Saturday Night Live featured-player - NBC.com". NBC. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b White, Peter; Grobar, Matt (October 4, 2023). "'SNL': Pete Davidson & Bad Bunny Among Hosts As NBC Show Sets Returns With SAG-AFTRA Blessing, Full Cast Comes Back For Season 49 & Chloe Troast Joins". Deadline. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Maloney, Sean L. (August 1, 2024). "The Book of James: Hometown Boy James Austin Johnson Makes Good". Nashville Scene. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Levy, Matt (August 1, 2024). "Exclusive | Nate Bargatze tour 2024: Where to buy tickets, best prices, Atlantic City". Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Encinias, Joshua (September 27, 2022). "James Austin Johnson: New kid at the Rock". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Beckner, Grace (December 7, 2021). "Trevecca alum makes it to the Saturday Night Live Stage". TrevEchoes Online. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Rodgers, D. Patrick (July 25, 2022). "James Austin Johnson on Old Nashville, SNL and Trump". Nashville Scene. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  10. ^ "Meet the 3 new 'SNL' cast members joining season 47". EW.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  11. ^ Organ, Mike (August 6, 2016). "Peyton Manning 'just like George Clooney,' commercial co-star says". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Gomez, Dessi (September 29, 2021). "Here Are This Season's New 'SNL' Cast Members and Where You've Seen Them Before (Video)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Bucksbaum, Sydney (September 27, 2021). "Meet the 3 new Saturday Night Live cast members joining season 47". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  14. ^ Hudak, Joseph (October 3, 2021). "'SNL' Debuts New Joe Biden in Cold Open Skewering the Democrats' Bad Summer: James Austin Johnson takes over the role of Biden in a skit co-starring Aidy Bryant as a scene-stealing Joe Manchin". Rolling Stone. New York, NY: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (March 25, 2024). "Searchlight's 'A Complete Unknown' Adds Boyd Holbrook, Scoot McNairy, Dan Fogler, Will Harrison & Charlie Tahan". Deadline. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "We spoke to Bloofy and Pouchy, breakouts of 'Inside Out 2' - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. June 21, 2024. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Busis, Hillary (June 18, 2024). "Why Bo Burnham Turned Down John Mulaney's 'Everybody's in LA'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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