Arnold Herbert Johnson (November 15, 1921 – April 10, 2000) was an American actor who played the lead role in the film ''

Putney Swope ''Putney Swope'' is a 1969 American satirical comedy film written and directed by Robert Downey Sr., and starring Arnold Johnson as the title character, a black advertising executive. The film satirizes the advertising world, the portrayal of ...

'' (1969). The film was directed by

Robert Downey Sr. Robert John Downey Sr. ( Elias Jr.; June 24, 1936 – July 7, 2021) was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He was known for writing and directing the underground film '' Putney Swope'' (1969), a satire on the New York Madison Ave ...

Johnson appeared in '' Shaft'' (1971) as Cul, a friend of

John Shaft John Shaft is a fictional private investigator created by author/screenwriter Ernest Tidyman for the 1970 novel of the same name. He was portrayed by Richard Roundtree in the original 1971 film and in its four sequels—'' Shaft's Big Score!'' ...

and the owner of a shoeshine parlor. He also had roles in ''

Rocky ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...

'' (1976) and ''

Menace II Society ''Menace II Society'' (pronounced ''Menace to Society'') is a 1993 American teen crime drama film directed by the Hughes Brothers in their directorial debut. Set in the Watts and Crenshaw neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the film follows the l ...

'' (1993), as Thomas, the religious Christian grandfather of the lead character Caine (played by

Tyrin Turner Tyrin Turner is an American actor. He is best known for playing the lead role of Caine Lawson in the critically acclaimed 1993 urban drama ''Menace II Society''. Career Turner is best known for playing the main character, Kaydee "Caine" Lawson, ...

). Examples of his television work include recurring roles as George "Hutch" Hutton in ''

Sanford and Son ''Sanford and Son'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the British sitcom '' Steptoe and Son'', which initially aired on BBC1 in the United Kingdom from 1962 to ...

'' and as Fletcher, Mother Winslow's second husband, on the sitcom ''

Family Matters ''Family Matters'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC for eight seasons from September 22, 1989, to May 9, 1997, then moved to CBS for its ninth and final season from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. A spin-of ...

''. He guest-starred as Uncle Buddy in a Christmas episode of ''

The Jeffersons ''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985. Lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes, ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history ...

'', titled " George Finds a Father". He also guest-starred as Hubert Johnson on ''

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (actor), Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was televis ...

'' in the episode titled " A Place to Die". Johnson died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 78.

Filmography

*''

'' (1969) as Putney *'' Shaft'' (1971) as Cul *'' Pipe Dreams'' (1976) as Johnny Monday *''

'' (1976) as Apollo's lawyer *'' A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich'' (1978) as Patient *''

American Hot Wax ''American Hot Wax'' is a 1978 biographical film directed by Floyd Mutrux with a screenplay by John Kaye from a story by John Kaye and Art Linson. The film tells the story of pioneering disc jockey Alan Freed, who in the 1950s helped introduce ...

'' (1978) as Arnold, Musician in Bar *'' On the Nickel'' (1980) *''

Honky Tonk Freeway ''Honky Tonk Freeway'' is a 1981 British comedy film directed by John Schlesinger. The film, conceived and co-produced by Don Boyd, was one of the most expensive box office bombs in history, losing its British backers Thorn EMI between $11 mill ...

'' (1981) as Bank Bum *''

Chu Chu and the Philly Flash ''Chu Chu and the Philly Flash'' is a 1981 American comedy film starring Alan Arkin, Carol Burnett, Jack Warden, Ruth Buzzi, Adam Arkin and Danny Aiello. It was directed by David Lowell Rich and produced by Jay Weston, with the screenplay being ...

'' (1981) as Bum *''

Racing with the Moon ''Racing with the Moon'' is a 1984 American drama film directed by Richard Benjamin, written by Steve Kloves, and starring Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern and Nicolas Cage. The original music score was composed by Dave Grusin. The film's title de ...

'' (1984) as Tattoo Artist *''

Oh, God! You Devil ''Oh, God! You Devil'' is a 1984 American comedy film, directed by Paul Bogart from a script written by Andrew Bergman. The movie is a sequel to ''Oh, God! Book II'' (1980) serves as the third and final installment overall in ''Oh God!'' film se ...

'' (1984) as Preacher *'' My Demon Lover'' (1987) as Fixer *''

Weeds A weed is an unwanted plant of any species. Weed or weeds may also refer to: Places * Weed, Arkansas, an unincorporated community in the United States * Weed, California, a city in the United States * Weed, Kentucky, an unincorporated communit ...

'' (1987) as Inmate *''

The Seventh Sign ''The Seventh Sign'' is a 1988 American apocalyptic drama horror film written by Clifford and Ellen Green and directed by Carl Schultz. The film stars Demi Moore, Michael Biehn, Jürgen Prochnow and Peter Friedman. The title and plot referen ...

'' (1988) as Janitor *''

Sunset Sunset (or sundown) is the disappearance of the Sun at the end of the Sun path, below the horizon of the Earth (or any other astronomical object in the Solar System) due to its Earth's rotation, rotation. As viewed from everywhere on Earth, it ...

'' (1988) as George *'' Piramiddo no Kanata ni: White Lion Densetsu'' (1989) *''

'' (1990-1995) as Fletcher Thomas *''

The Five Heartbeats ''The Five Heartbeats'' is a 1991 musical drama film directed by Robert Townsend, who co-wrote the script with Keenen Ivory Wayans. Produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film's main cast includes Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon Rob ...

'' (1991) as Mr. Matthews *''

'' (1993) as Thomas Lawson

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Arnold 1921 births 2000 deaths Male actors from Brooklyn American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century African-American male actors