VAN JOHNSON

August 26, 1916

Van Johnson was born Charles Van Dell Johnson in Newport, Rhode Island. Johnson performed while in high school. He moved to New York City after graduation in 1935 and joined the off-Broadway review Entre Nous. His acting career began in earnest in the Broadway revue New Faces of 1936.  In 1939, George Abbott cast him in Rodgers and Hart’s Too Many Girls in the role of a college boy and as understudy for all three male leads. 

He had an uncredited role in the film adaptation of Too Many Girls (1940) which costarred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Johnson was about to move back to New York when Lucille Ball took him to Chasen’s Restaurant, where she introduced him to MGM casting director Billy Grady. This led to screen tests by Hollywood studios. Warner Brothers put him on contract at $300 a week, although it only lasted six months. Johnson was soon signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

He was also seen with Lucy in the MGM film Easy to Wed (1946), a remake of one  Libeled Lady with Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy.

“The Screen Guild Theater” broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 16, 1948 with Van Johnson and Esther Williams reprising their film roles.

“Lux Radio Theater” broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 27, 1950 with Van Johnson reprising his film role.

On February 14, 1954, Johnson, Lucy, and Desi, joined many other celebrities on “Toast of the Town” as they marked “MGM’s 30th Anniversary”.  Lucy and Desi were promoting their MGM film The Long, Long Trailer. 

In “Getting Ready” (ILL S4;E11), Lucy takes a break from preparing for their trip to California to ‘name-drop’ (including Johnson’s) on the telephone with Marion: 

LUCY: “Would you like me to give a message to any of the gang out there? You know, Clark, or Cary, or Van, or Marlon?”

Van Johnson is the only one of those stars (Gable, Grant, and Brando) that Lucy Ricardo (and viewers) actually meets during her Hollywood stay. 

In “Hollywood Anniversary” (ILL S4;E24), Ricky plants a fake publicity article about their star-studded anniversary party at the Mocambo. Van and Evie Johnson are among the stars mentioned as attendees. Sadly, Ricky later admits to Lucy that “none of those peoples are coming!” 

Evie Lynn Abbott was first married to Keenan Wynn (who was in Easy To Wed with Van and Lucy). She married Van Johnson on the very day of her divorce from Wynn – January 25, 1947 – only four hours after the divorce was finalized. Wynn was Johnson’s best friend and had spent a month recuperating from a near-fatal car accident at the Wynn family home. During his recovery word got back to Louis B. Mayer at MGM that sparks had flown between Evie and Johnson. The film mogul saw this as a way to dispel rumors about Johnson’s sexuality.  Although they were genuinely in love, Mayer cemented the deal by providing unusual career concessions for Keenan.

According to her son, Ned Wynn, Van Johnson later left Evie for a male tennis instructor. Evie and Van divorced in May 1968. They had one child together; Schuyler. 

Shortly afterward, Johnson played himself on one of the most popular episodes of “I Love Lucy,” “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27), a show originally intended for Ray Bolger.  Lucy and Desi always knew that they could call upon their friend and co-star to do a guest appearance, but timing was crucial.

Johnson was scheduled to have been “The Star Upstairs” (ILL S4;E25), but was then appearing in advertising for Lucky Strike cigarettes and could not work out the conflict with “I Love Lucy” sponsor Philip Morris in time for the filming, so he was was replaced by Cornel Wilde. This was Johnson’s television debut. 

In the episode, Van is performing at the hotel where the Ricardos and Mertzes are staying. When Lucy’s New York pal Caroline Appleby visits, Lucy has to hastily convince Johnson to incorporate her into his act. 

The two sing and dance to “How About You?” by Burton Lane and Ralph Freed. 

In tandem with this episode, Lucy, Desi and Van Johnson appeared on the cover of the cover of Scotland’s Picture Post Magazine in September 1955. Although the show aired in the US in May, overseas airings were typically later. Except for the studio audience attending the filming in March 1955, this may be the public’s first glimpse of Lucy’s ostrich feathered gown in glorious color! 

After Van Heflin turned down the role of Elliot Ness on Desilu’s crime drama 
“The Untouchables” (1959) it was offered to Johnson. He turned it down as well. The role eventually went to Robert Stack.   

In October 1960, Johnson did a guest spot on Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show” as television writer Terry Tyler. Lucille Ball had played Lucy Ricardo on the series a year earlier. 

Like many character actors of the time, Johnson played a “Batman” villain: The Minstrel, in 1968 (right). In 1957, he had played “The Pied Piper” on television and Minstrel was undoubtedly inspired by that role. 

In 1968, Johnson was billed below Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda in Yours, Mine and Ours. 

Johnson plays a naval officer who fixes up his friend (Henry Fonda) with a nurse. Between the two of them, they have 19 kids!  

The film was referenced when Johnson played himself (and his nefarious doppelganger) in “Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50″ (HL S1;E11).

Van Johnson (Impostor): “I loved working with that kooky redhead.”
Lucy Carter: “Personally, I thought she was much too young for Henry Fonda.”

Lucy Carter loans Van Johnson money to fix his car – but the man turns out to be an impostor. In return, Lucy wants the real Van Johnson to fly to Dallas to sing “Happy Birthday” to a cow named Ethel!  (No kidding!)   

In the episode, Lucy Carter praises Johnson’s film The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1946), claiming to have seen it 17 times!  The film was Janet Leigh’s screen debut.  

Angry at Johnson, Lucy says that she’s glad he got court martialed in The Caine Mutiny. This is the second mention of  The Caine Mutiny on the series. The previous one referred to the book by Herman Woulk that served as the basis for the screenplay.  A stage play adaptation was mentioned on “Lucy Meets Orson Welles” (ILL S6;E3) by Miss Hannah, Lucy’s high school drama teacher.     

In May 2017 CBS revived “The I Love Lucy Superstar Special” with colorized versions of “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27) starring Van Johnson and 

“Lucy Meets Harpo Marx” (ILL S4;E28).

Van Johnson was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for playing March Goodwin in “Rich Man, Poor Man” (1976). He lost to Gordon Jackson of “Upstairs Downstairs.” 

In 1985, Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz, Van Johnson and 97 other celebrities were part of “Night of 100 Stars II” at Radio City Music Hall. 

In the 1980s and ‘90s Johnson returned to theatre, touring and playing dinner theatres as well as appearing on Broadway in the musical La Cage Aux Folles in 1985.  His last musical role was as Cap’ Andy in Show Boat in 1991. 

In 1993, he was included in the Emmy-Winning documentary film “Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie”. 

In 2000, Johnson remembered Lucille Ball as part of “Finding Lucy,” a documentary on PBS. 

He died in 2008 at age 92.