Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 [O.S. 7 September] – 13 December 1784), often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory, and has been described as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history." He is also the subject of "the most famous single work of biographical art in the whole of literature": James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson.Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Johnson attended Pembroke College, Oxford for just over a year, before his lack of funds forced him to leave. After working as a teacher he moved to London, where he began to write for The Gentleman's Magazine. His early works include the biography The Life of Richard Savage, the poems "London" and "The Vanity of Human Wishes", and the play Irene.After nine years of work, Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1755. It had a far-reaching effect on Modern English and has been described as "one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship." This work brought Johnson popularity and success. Until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later, Johnson's was viewed as the pre-eminent British dictionary. His later works included essays, an influential annotated edition of William Shakespeare's plays, and the widely read tale Rasselas. In 1763, he befriended James Boswell, with whom he later travelled to Scotland; Johnson described their travels in A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. Towards the end of his life, he produced the massive and influential Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, a collection of biographies and evaluations of 17th- and 18th-century poets.Johnson was a tall and robust man. His odd gestures and nervous tics were disconcerting to some on first meeting him. Boswell's Life, along with other biographies, documented Johnson's behaviour and mannerisms in such detail that they have informed the posthumous diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, a condition not defined or diagnosed in the 18th century. After a series of illnesses, he died on the evening of 13 December 1784, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. In the years following his death, Johnson began to be recognised as having had a lasting effect on literary criticism, and he was claimed by some to be the only truly great critic of English literature.
Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, Kingdom of Great Britain
Profession
Actor, Producer
Education
Pembroke College, Oxford
Nationality
British
Spouse
Elizabeth Johnson (1689–1752)
Siblings
Hilde Johnston, Constance Johnston
Awards
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama, Logie Award for Best Actor, Gold Logie Award for Best Personality on Australian Television
Nominations
AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama, Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor
Movies
$9.99, Crackerjack, Crawlspace, The Illustrated Family Doctor, Strange Fits of Passion, One Way Ticket, Blind Company, After the Deluge, Sparky D Comes to Town, Auditioning Fanny, The House of Names, Skud, ICQ, Hole In The Wall, Inner Sanctuary, Return Trip, Happy Little Vegemites: Unauthorized
TV Shows
The Secret Life of Us, Rush, Small Time Gangster, Molly, Beyond the Darklands
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Fact
1
Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia [January 2009]
2
Preparing to ride a unicycle from Sydney to Melbourne for charity. [October 2003]
3
He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian society and Australian film production.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Molly
2016
TV Mini-Series
Ian 'Molly' Meldrum
The Wizards of Aus
2016
TV Series
Terry
The Secret River
2015
TV Mini-Series
Saggity
Paper Giants: Magazine Wars
2013
TV Mini-Series
Paul Cavanagh
Crawlspace
2012
Matthews
Alphamum01
2012
Short
Tom
Auditioning Fanny
2012
Short
Brian the casting director
The Republic of Simon
2011
Short
Simon
The Tea Party
2011
Short
Indy (voice)
Rush
2008-2011
TV Series
Leon Broznic
Small Time Gangster
2011
TV Mini-Series
Gary
Wilfred
2010
TV Series
Sam
The Pacific
2010
TV Mini-Series
Adam
Sleuth 101
2010
TV Series
Cache
Blind Company
2009
Theatre Director
Underbelly
2009
TV Series
Jack Smith
$9.99
2008
Dave Peck (voice)
Hostelsuckers
2008
Budger
Thank God You're Here
2007
TV Series
Additional Cast
Shotgun! [An Opening Sequence]
2007
Short
Billy
Hole in the Wall
2006
Short
Dead Rain
2006
Josh
Ten Feet Tall
2005
Short
Tim
The Illustrated Family Doctor
2005
Gary Kelp
The Secret Life of Us
2001-2005
TV Series
Evan Wylde
The House of Names
2003
Short
Cleveland
After the Deluge
2003
TV Movie
Toby Kirby
Shadowbane
2003
Video Game voice, as Sam Johnson
Crackerjack
2002
Dave Jackson
New Skin
2002
Sten
Sparky D Comes to Town
2001
TV Short
Stretch
ICQ
2001
Short
Eric
The Secret Life of Us
2001
TV Movie
Evan Wylde / Narrator
Something in the Air
2000
TV Series
Dermot Yates
The New Adventures of Ocean Girl
2000
TV Series
Prince Jobah
Return Trip
1999
Short
Tram Driver
Halifax f.p.
1999
TV Series
Jamie Callen
Wildside
1999
TV Series
Troy Cunningham
Taken
1999/II
Short
Strange Fits of Passion
1999
Josh
Thunderstone
1999
TV Series
Duane
Stingers
1998
TV Series
Murray Best
Good Guys Bad Guys
1997-1998
TV Series
Dermott Maginnis
One Way Ticket
1997
TV Movie
Jimmie (as Sam Johnson)
Skud
1997
Short
Matt
Raw FM
1997
TV Series
Adams
The Last of the Ryans
1997
TV Movie
Young Journalist (as Sam Johnson)
Blue Heelers
1995-1997
TV Series
Glen Rigby / Dennis Cole
The Inner Sanctuary
1996
Carl
Ocean Girl
1995
TV Series
Rocky
Angel Baby
1995
Check-Out Cashier
Home and Away
1995
TV Series
Gus Bishop
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Alphamum01
2012
Short executive producer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hipsters
2015
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
Today
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
This Week Live
2013
TV Series
Himself
Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight
2013
TV Series
Himself
The Project
2013
TV Series
Himself
The Trophy Room
2010
TV Series
Himself
Good News Week
2010
TV Series
Himself
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
2009
TV Series
Himself
Paper Dolls: Australian Pinups of World War 2
2009
Documentary voice
Spicks and Specks
2007
TV Series
Himself
Australia's Brainiest Kid
2006
TV Series
Himself
Rove Live
2003
TV Series
Himself
The Panel
2003
TV Series
Himself
The Ralf Little Show
2002
TV Series
Himself - Special Guest
The Secret Life of 'The Secret Life of Us'
2002
TV Movie documentary
Himself / Interviewer
The Big Schmooze
2001
TV Series
Himself
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
1992
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
1992
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2001
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama Series
The Secret Life of Us (2001)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2017
AACTA Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama
Molly (2016)
2016
AACTA Award
AACTA Awards
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama
Molly (2016)
2003
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Actor in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy
After the Deluge (2003)
2002
Silver Logie
Logie Awards
Most Popular Actor
The Secret Life of Us (2001)
1999
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama