Bill Saluga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Saluga |
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| Birth name | William Saluga |
| Born | September 16, 1937 Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2023 (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
| Genres | Sketch comedy, improvisational comedy, character comedy |
| Subject(s) | Self-deprecation, everyday life |
| Notable works and roles |
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William Saluga (born September 16, 1937 – died March 28, 2023) was a funny American comedian. He was a founding member of a comedy group called the Ace Trucking Company. You might have seen him on TV shows like Seinfeld.
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Bill Saluga's Early Life
Bill Saluga was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on September 16, 1937. When he was 10, his father passed away. His mother worked hard as a bookkeeper to support the family. Bill, known as "Billy" to his friends, was a high school cheerleader. He was also known for being the class clown. After finishing school, he served two years in the Navy. Then, he started working as a performer in local theaters.
His Comedy Career
Bill Saluga spent several years performing in theaters and clubs in Youngstown, Ohio. He acted in many plays, including Guys and Dolls and Inherit the Wind. In the late 1960s, Bill became a talent coordinator for the Steve Allen show.
The Famous "Johnson" Character
In 1969, Bill Saluga created his most famous character: "Johnson." He came up with this character while working with the comedy group Ace Trucking Company.
Bill's funny routine as "Johnson" went like this: If someone called him "Mr. Johnson" or just "Johnson," he would pretend to be very offended. Then, he would list all the different ways you could call him, as long as it wasn't "Johnson."
"NOOO!!! You don't have to call me Johnson! My name is Raymond J. Johnson Jr. Now you can call me Ray, or you can call me J, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me Junie, or you can call me Junior; now you can call me Ray J, or you can call me RJ, or you can call me RJJ, or you can call me RJJ Jr. . . but you doesn't hasta call me Johnson!"
After saying all that, Bill would turn away with a satisfied look and puff on his cigar.
Johnson's Popularity on TV
The "Johnson" routine became very popular in the late 1970s. It was used in commercials for Miller Lite beer. Later, in the early 1980s, it appeared in ads for Anheuser-Busch Natural Light beer.
In these ads, Bill Saluga appeared with comedian Norm Crosby. Norm would explain how to order the long-named beer easily. Bill would then add, "Well, y'doesn't hasta call it Anheuser Busch Natural Light Beer... Just say 'Natural!'" Then, he would launch into his "You can call me Ray" routine.
From 1977 to 1978, Bill Saluga appeared regularly as Raymond J. Johnson Jr. on Redd Foxx's TV show. He also appeared on This Is Tom Jones, Laugh-In, and The David Steinberg Show. He even made appearances on Chuck Barris' The Gong Show in 1977 and 1978.
In 1978, a fun disco song called "Dancin' Johnson" was released. It was based on Bill Saluga's famous character.
Johnson in Pop Culture
The "You can call me Ray, or you can call me J" saying was very popular. An episode of the TV show Good Times in 1978 featured a scene where a character named Keith recited it.
Even famous musician Bob Dylan referenced the "you may call me" routine. In his 1979 song "Gotta Serve Somebody," he sings, "You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy / You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy / You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray / You may call me anything, but no matter what you say / You’re gonna have to serve somebody."
The "Johnson" character's popularity is also mentioned in several episodes of The Simpsons. Bill Saluga even appeared as himself in a 2002 episode called "The Old Man and the Key". He also appeared as Johnson in a 2010 King of the Hill episode.
Later Life and Legacy
Bill Saluga passed away in Los Angeles on March 28, 2023, at the age of 85. His nephew, Scott Saluga, shared that Bill was living in Burbank, California, when he died.
Bill Saluga often told friends that he didn't mind being known mostly for his Raymond Johnson character. Comedian David Steinberg said that Bill was always ready to perform the "Ray J" routine. He would do it everywhere, and his timing was always perfect and funny.
In 2017, Bill Saluga mentioned that people rarely recognized him when he wasn't in character. He enjoyed hearing people perform his famous routine without knowing he was the one who created it.
