Michelle Johnson (born September 9, 1965) is an American actress who portrayed Jennifer Lyons in the 1984 romantic comedy film ''

Blame It on Rio ''Blame It on Rio'' is a 1984 American romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen and written by Charlie Peters and Larry Gelbart based on the 1977 French film ''Un moment d'égarement'', starring an ensemble cast led by Michael Caine, Joseph ...

'', Jessica Cole in ''

The Glimmer Man ''The Glimmer Man'' is a 1996 American buddy-cop action comedy film directed by John Gray and produced by Steven Seagal. The film stars Seagal, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bob Gunton, and Brian Cox. The film was released in the United States on Octob ...

'' (1996), and Kim Carlisle in ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pa ...

'' (1984-1985).

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Anchorage,

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...

, to mother Faye, a nurse, and father Don, who owned a furniture store. At age four, Johnson and her mother relocated to

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

, where her mother married child psychologist Dr. Grant Johnson. 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. Director

Stanley Donen Stanley Donen ( ; April 13, 1924 – February 21, 2019) was an American film director and choreographer whose most celebrated works are '' On the Town,'' (1949) and ''Singin' in the Rain'' (1952), both of which he co-directed with Gene Kell ...

spotted her in a photograph in the fashion biweekly ''W'', 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 nude 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 ''

''. She appeared in films ''Gung Ho (film), Gung Ho'' (1986), ''Waxwork (1988 film), Waxwork'' (1988), and ''

'' (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 (1978 TV series), Dallas''. Since 2000, Johnson has starred in only one film, ''Mickey (2004 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 (third baseman), Matt Williams, of the Phoenix-based Arizona Diamondbacks. They resided primarily in Scottsdale, Arizona. 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.

Filmography

Television

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Michelle American film actresses Actresses from Anchorage, Alaska Actresses_from_Phoenix,_Arizona 1965 births Living people American television actresses Female models from Alaska Female models from Arizona 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses