History of Arte Johnson in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 6, 2024

"Arthur Stanton Eric Johnson, better known as Arte Johnson, was an American actor and comedian widely recognized for his contributions to the popular television show 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'. His memorable appearances on the program solidified his place in television history."

January 20, 1929: Birth of Arte Johnson

Arte Johnson was born on January 20, 1929, in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

1942: Inspiration for Catchphrase

Arte Johnson's famous catchphrase, "Very interesting...," was inspired by a character in the 1942 film "Desperate Journey."

1949: Graduation and Early Career

In 1949, Arte Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in radio journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was involved with the campus radio station and theater guild.

1954: Move to New York and Nightclub Performances

After a brief stint in Korea and an unsuccessful job search in Chicago, Johnson moved to New York City in 1954 and began performing at various nightclubs, leading to his first show business role in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

February 28, 1955: The Shoestring Revue

Arte Johnson appeared in Ben Bagley's "The Shoestring Revue," which premiered off-Broadway at the President Theater in New York on February 28, 1955.

1955: Television Appearances

Arte Johnson appeared in multiple television shows in 1955, including "It's Always Jan."

1956: Television Appearances

Arte Johnson made notable television appearances in 1956, including "Make Room for Daddy."

1958: Joining the Cast of "Sally"

Arte Johnson joined the cast of the NBC sitcom "Sally" in 1958, playing the character Bascomb Bleacher, Jr.

1960: Film and Television Roles

Arte Johnson appeared in the film "The Subterraneans" and the television series "Hennesey" in 1960.

1961: Television Appearances

Arte Johnson appeared in several television shows in 1961, including "The Twilight Zone" and "Hennesey."

1962: Television Appearance

Arte Johnson appeared in an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" in 1962.

1962: Notable Television Roles

In 1962, Arte Johnson landed roles in popular television shows such as "McHale's Navy," "The Andy Griffith Show," and "GE True."

1963: Regular Cast Member on "Don't Call Me Charlie!"

Arte Johnson was part of the main cast of the sitcom "Don't Call Me Charlie!" in 1962 and 1963, playing the character of Corporal Lefkowitz.

October 2, 1964: Appearance on "The Jack Benny Program"

On October 2, 1964, Arte Johnson appeared on "The Jack Benny Program," performing a comedic sketch with Jack Benny.

June 2, 1965: Guest Appearance on "Bewitched"

Arte Johnson guest-starred as Samantha's Cousin Edgar in the season finale of "Bewitched," which aired on June 2, 1965.

1966: Appearance on "The Donna Reed Show"

Arte Johnson appeared in one of the last episodes of "The Donna Reed Show" in 1966.

1967: Role in "The President's Analyst"

Arte Johnson had a role in the satirical film "The President's Analyst" in 1967, playing a comically serious federal agent.

1968: Guest Appearance on "Lost in Space"

Arte Johnson appeared in an episode of the third season of "Lost in Space" titled "Princess of Space" in 1968.

1968: Joining the Cast of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"

Arte Johnson became a cast member on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in 1968, where he played various characters.

March 16, 1970: On-Air Wedding on "Laugh-In"

On the March 16, 1970, episode of "Laugh-In," Arte Johnson's character Tyrone participated in a staged wedding with Gladys, which was part of a ratings stunt.

1971: Appearance in "Night Gallery"

Arte Johnson starred in an episode of Rod Serling's "Night Gallery" called "The Flip-Side of Satan" in 1971.

1973: Departure from "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"

Arte Johnson left "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in 1973.

1973: Television Appearances

Arte Johnson made guest appearances on "The Partridge Family" and "A Touch of Grace" in 1973.

1974: Appearances on "Hot Fudge" and "Match Game"

Arte Johnson appeared on the children's show "Hot Fudge" and as a guest panelist on "Match Game" in 1974.

1976: Becoming a Judge on "The Gong Show"

Arte Johnson started appearing as a regular guest judge on "The Gong Show" in 1976.

1976: Voice Acting and Television Appearance

In 1976, Arte Johnson provided the voice for Misterjaw in "The Pink Panther Show" and appeared on the Canadian show "Celebrity Cooks."

September 1977: Guest Appearance on "Wheel of Fortune"

Arte Johnson filled in as a letter-turner on "Wheel of Fortune" in September 1977, promoting his game show "Knockout."

1978: End of "Knockout"

Arte Johnson's game show "Knockout" ended in early 1978.

1979: Role in "Love at First Bite"

Arte Johnson played Renfield in the film "Love at First Bite" in 1979.

1980: Role in "Condominium"

Arte Johnson had a role in the television disaster film "Condominium" in 1980.

1980: End of Role on "The Gong Show"

Arte Johnson's time as a judge on "The Gong Show" ended in 1980.

1985: Voice Acting in "The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo"

Arte Johnson lent his voice to the character "Weerd" in "The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo" in 1985.

1987: Guest Appearance on "Murder, She Wrote"

Arte Johnson appeared in the "Murder, She Wrote" episode "No Laughing Murder" in 1987.

1990: Appearance on "Night Court"

Arte Johnson made a guest appearance on an episode of "Night Court" in 1990.

1991: Recurring Role on "General Hospital"

From 1991 to 1992, Arte Johnson appeared in several episodes of "General Hospital" as Finian O'Toole.

1992: End of Role on "General Hospital"

Arte Johnson's recurring role on "General Hospital" ended in 1992.

1996: Role in "Second Chance"

Arte Johnson played the head of a lab in the film "Second Chance" in 1996.

1997: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment

In 1997, Arte Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He underwent treatment and successfully overcame the illness.

2005: Final Acting Role in "Justice League Unlimited"

Arte Johnson's final acting role was voicing Virman Vundabar in the "Justice League Unlimited" episode "The Ties That Bind" in 2005.

2006: Retirement and Audiobook Narration

Arte Johnson retired from acting in 2006. He was known for narrating over 80 audiobooks, including "Absurdistan."

July 3, 2019: Death of Arte Johnson

Arte Johnson passed away on July 3, 2019.

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