Michelle Johnson (actress)

Michelle Johnson (born September 9, 1965) is an American actress, perhaps best known for her role when she was 18 as Lolita-like teenager Jennifer Lyons in the 1984 romantic comedy film Blame It on Rio.

Michelle Johnson
Born (1965-09-09) September 9, 1965
Anchorage, Alaska, US
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMichelle Williams
OccupationActress
Years active1984–2004
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1999; div. 2002)

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Anchorage, Alaska, to mother Faye, a nurse, and father Don, who owned a furniture store.[1] At age four, Johnson and her mother relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where her mother married child psychologist Dr. Grant Johnson.[1]

Michelle Johnson attended Alhambra High School from 1979 through 1983, graduating one semester early in January 1983.

Career

At age 16, Johnson began doing fashion print work and was soon signed by the Wilhelmina agency in New York City.[1] Director Stanley Donen spotted her in a photograph in the fashion biweekly W,[1] and just as her modeling career was beginning, chose her to act in his feature film Blame It on Rio instead. Since she was 17 at the time, she required permission from a judge to appear topless in the film.

Johnson appeared in a number of roles over the next 15 years. She appeared in theatrical films, television movies and television series, including a recurring role for one season of The Love Boat. She appeared in films Gung Ho (1986), Waxwork (1988) and The Glimmer Man (1996). She also co-starred in TV movie Dallas: War of the Ewings in 1998 as Jennifer Jantzen, and in 1985 played Rhonda Cummings in an episode of Dallas.

Since 2000, Johnson has starred in only one film, Mickey (2004). Other than occasional paparazzi photos, she had since remained out of the public eye until returning to acting briefly in the digital media Christmas special Brat Holiday Spectacular (2018).

Personal life

From January 15, 1999 through July 2002, Johnson was married to Major League Baseball player Matt Williams, of the Phoenix-based Arizona Diamondbacks.[2][3] They resided primarily in Scottsdale, Arizona.[3]

Johnson sold her house in West Hollywood, California, in April 2009 for a reported sum of $4.1 million. The house was near the Sunset Strip in a celebrity-populated neighborhood.[4]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Blame It on RioJennifer Lyons
1986Gung HoHeather DiStefano
1987Charles in ChargeJoyce
1987Beaks: The MovieVanessa Cartwright
WerewolfKelly NicholsTV series, pilot episode
1988The Jigsaw MurdersKathy DaVonzo
Slipping Into DarknessCarlyle
WaxworkChina Webster
1990Wishful ThinkingDiane
1991Blood TiesCelia
Trabbi Goes to HollywoodRicki
Tales from the Crypt: Split SecondLiz
1992A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick StoryLinda Kolkena Broderick
Death Becomes HerAnna
Dr. GigglesTamara
Far and AwayGrace
Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last ChapterLinda Kolkena Broderick
Street WarsTina
1992 & 1993Murder She WroteEpisodes "Incident in Lot 7" & "Ship of Thieves"
1993Body ShotDanielle Wild/Chelsea Savage
1994Incident at Deception RidgeNatalie Harris
Menendez: A Killing in Beverly HillsLisa
1995Illicit DreamsMelinda Ryan
The DonorDr. Lucy Flynn
When the Bullet Hits the BoneLisa
1996The Glimmer ManJessica Cole
SpecimenSarah
The Outer LimitsAdy Suttonepisode: First Anniversary
1997Inner Action
Moving TargetCasey
1998Dallas: War of the EwingsJennifer Jantzen
1999RevengeVicky Mayerson
2004MickeyPatty
2018Brat Holiday Spectacular Nellie (Eleanor Chambers)

References
  1. Evans, Hilary (March 12, 1984). "Newcomer Michelle Johnson Raises Eyebrows—and Temperatures—in Blame It on Rio". People. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  2. Pearlman, Jeff (2001-10-29). "Best supporting actress". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  3. "Matt Williams' actress-wife seeks divorce". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. 2002-07-16. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  4. Beale, Lauren (April 16, 2009). "Michelle Johnson sells Sunset Strip-area home for $4.1 million". Chicago Tribune.
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