Rafer Johnson

Rafer Johnson

Deceased · Born: Aug 18, 1934 · Died: Dec 2, 2020

Personal Details

Height6' 2"
BornAug 18, 1934 Hillsboro, Texas, USA

Biography

Rafer Johnson was a distinguished American athlete, occasional actor, and multi-talented individual with numerous accomplishments to his name. As a UCLA basketball star, he went on to become the Pan American decathlon champion in 1955 and a two-time decathlon silver medallist at the Melbourne Olympics, despite injuries, in 1956. Four years later, he won the gold medal at the Rome Olympics.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Johnson was a co-founding member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors in 1968 and co-founded the California Special Olympics the following year. He served as board president from 1983 to 1992. He was also a member of the Peace Corps during the administration of John F. Kennedy.

Johnson's career extended beyond sports, as he worked as a sports anchor at KNBC in Los Angeles. During Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign, Johnson served as an advisor and quasi-bodyguard to his close friend. Tragically, he was present at the time of Kennedy's assassination and famously tackled the assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, along with Roosevelt Grier, and secured the murder weapon.

Johnson played a significant role in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, serving as the torch bearer. He was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 1994, California's Hall of Fame in 2009, and received the UCLA medal seven years later.

Throughout his life, Johnson also pursued an acting career, albeit modestly. He befriended film legend Kirk Douglas while training in Rome for the 1960 Olympics and was offered the role of Draba in the epic film Spartacus. However, he had to decline the offer due to his Olympic commitments. Johnson appeared in various films, including period adventures and guest-starred in several television shows, such as Mission: Impossible, Roots: The Next Generations, and Quincy, M.E. He also made a brief appearance in the James Bond thriller Licence to Kill.

Rafer Johnson passed away on December 2, 2020, at the age of 85, in Sherman Oaks, California.

Career

{"id":60267,"title":"Think Big","year":"1989","character":"Johnson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/think-big","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_60267.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_60267.jpg"},"released":1}
1989
Think Big
Think Big as Johnson
{"id":3039,"title":"Licence to Kill","year":"1989","character":"Mullens","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/licence-to-kill","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/5v0jaahr5850.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/5v0jaahr5850.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":10101,"title":"Roots: The Next Generations","year":1979,"character":"Nelson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/roots-the-next-generations","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/mu38h2qkpsk0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/mu38h2qkpsk0.jpg"},"released":1}
1979
{"id":81853,"title":"The Games","year":"1970","character":"Commentator","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-games","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_81853.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_81853.jpg"},"released":1}
1970
The Games
The Games as Commentator
{"id":165966,"title":"The Red, White, and Black","year":"1970","character":"Pvt. Armstrong","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-red-white-and-black","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_165966.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_165966.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":96104,"title":"Tarzan and the Jungle Boy","year":"1968","character":"Nagambi","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/tarzan-and-the-jungle-boy","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_96104.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_96104.jpg"},"released":1}
1968
{"id":87576,"title":"Tarzan and the Great River","year":"1967","character":"Barcuma","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/tarzan-and-the-great-river","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_87576.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_87576.jpg"},"released":1}
1967
{"id":82107,"title":"None But the Brave","year":"1965","character":"Pvt. Johnson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/none-but-the-brave","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82107.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82107.jpg"},"released":1}
1965
None But the Brave
None But the Brave as Pvt. Johnson
{"id":10510,"title":"Lassie","year":1962,"character":"Pete","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/lassie-us","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10510.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10510.jpg"},"released":1}
1962
Lassie
Lassie as Pete
{"id":22698,"title":"Wild in the Country","year":"1961","character":"Davis","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/wild-in-the-country","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_22698.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_22698.jpg"},"released":1}
1961
{"id":96258,"title":"The Sins of Rachel Cade","year":"1961","character":"Kosongo","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-sins-of-rachel-cade","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_96258.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_96258.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":173677,"title":"Pirates of Tortuga","year":"1961","character":"John Gammel","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/pirates-of-tortuga","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_173677.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_173677.jpg"},"released":1}
Pirates of Tortuga
Pirates of Tortuga as John Gammel
{"id":32526,"title":"Sergeant Rutledge","year":"1960","character":"Cpl. Krump (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/sergeant-rutledge","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32526.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32526.jpg"},"released":1}
1960
Sergeant Rutledge
Sergeant Rutledge as Cpl. Krump (uncredited)
{"id":133610,"title":"Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games","year":"1999","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/fists-of-freedom-the-story-of-the-68-summer-games-1999","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_133610.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_133610.jpg"},"released":1}
1999
{"id":81464,"title":"The Loneliest Runner","year":"1976","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-loneliest-runner","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_81464.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_81464.jpg"},"released":1}
1976
{"id":164615,"title":"Free to Be... You & Me","year":"1974","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/free-to-be-you-me-1974","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_164615.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_164615.jpg"},"released":1}
1974