James Austin Johnson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Comedian
- actor
James Austin Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson in 2022 | |
| Born | July 19, 1989 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Trevecca Nazarene University (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Spouse | Rebekah Lain |
| Children | 1[1] |
| Website | jamesaustinjohnson |
James Austin Johnson (born July 19, 1989),[2][3] occasionally known by his initials, JAJ, is an American comedian and actor. He is 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]
Johnson was born on July 19, 1989, 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
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 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 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 Bob Dylan biopic film A Complete Unknown.[15] Johnson voiced the character Pouchy in the 2024 Pixar animated film Inside Out 2.[16]
Personal life
Johnson married Rebekah Elisabeth Lain in 2018. Their son, Homer, was born in 2022.