Wil Johnson facts for kids

Wilbert Charles Johnson (born on April 18, 1965) is an English actor. He is well-known for his roles in TV shows like Waking the Dead and Babyfather. He also played Dom Andrews in the soap opera Emmerdale from 2012 to 2014. On stage, he starred in the famous play Othello.

Early life and education

Wil Johnson was born in Muswell Hill, London, and grew up in Tottenham. His mother worked with investments, and his father worked for a delivery company called UPS.

When he was in primary school, Wil wasn't interested in music. But one day, he filled in for a drummer who was absent. This experience changed his mind about music.

He later attended Mountview Drama School in London. He also joined other drama and dance groups. He learned different dance styles, including ballet, contemporary dancing, and break dancing. He performed break dancing for about seven years. Wil also spent three years with the National Youth Theatre.

Acting career highlights

Wil Johnson's first professional acting job was in a play called Four Seasons in 1985. In the late 1980s, he had small roles in TV shows like Casualty and London's Burning.

Early TV roles

He then played Detective Stevie Johnson in the TV series Anna Lee. From 1994 to 1995, he was Detective Constable Michael Skelton in Cracker. Between acting jobs, Wil sometimes worked for a local funeral home. He would drive the hearse and help carry coffins.

Becoming a TV star

In 2000, Wil appeared in the first episode of the BBC One show Waking the Dead. He played Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan. This show was about a special police team that investigated old, unsolved crimes. Waking the Dead became a full series in 2001, and Wil was a main actor until it ended in 2011.

From 2000 to 2002, he was also Steve Robinson in the drama series Clocking Off. And from 2001 to 2002, he was a main actor in two series of the BBC show Babyfather.

Stage and film work

In 2004, Wil Johnson played the main character in the play Othello for the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.

He also played Marcus Kirby in the BBC One school drama Waterloo Road. In 2010, he appeared in the film In a Better World as Dr. Najeeb.

Wil also performed in plays like The Swallowing Dark. He appeared in the films Anuvahood (2011) as gangster boss Big Mike and Adulthood (2008) as Big Man.

Later TV and film roles

In November 2011, Wil played Sean Dolan, a children's doctor, in BBC One's Holby City.

In 2012, it was announced that Wil would join Emmerdale. He played Dominic "Dom" Andrews, a single father. He left the show in 2014 after his character's daughter, Gemma, died.

In 2013, he was in a film thriller called Life Outside. He also helped produce a film called Disorientated Generation.

In 2016, Wil Johnson played the Earl of Kent in a play called King Lear. Critics praised his performance. That same year, he received an award from the British Urban Film Festival for his more than 30 years of great work in film and television.

More recently, he has appeared in popular shows like Outlander (2017–2020) as Joe Abernathy and House of the Dragon (2022) as Ser Vaemond Velaryon.

Personal life

Wil Johnson has six children. His oldest daughter, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, is a composer, singer, songwriter, and cellist.

Wil married his wife, Camilla, in 2014.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Wil Johnson para niños