Christopher David Johnson (born November 29, 1955) is a Canadian actor best known for his role of Chuck Tchobanian on the dramatic television series Street Legal.

C. David Johnson
Born
Christopher David Johnson

(1955-11-29) November 29, 1955 (age 68)
NationalityCanadian
OccupationActor
Years active1986–present
Known forStreet Legal
Spouse
(m. 1987⁠–⁠1992)
Websitehttp://www.cdavidjohnson.com/

Early life edit

Johnson was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. He attended Stanstead College, the University of New Brunswick and the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School.

Career edit

Johnson rose to popularity when he landed the leading role of Charles 'Chuck' Tchobanian on the dramatic television series Street Legal in 1987.[1] The show went on to become one of the most successful TV series in Canadian history. It ran for eight years and Johnson received four consecutive Gemini nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.[2]

Following the success of Street Legal, Johnson was cast as a regular on the family series Mysterious Island. In 1998 he starred alongside Ted Danson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Brian Dennehy in the feature film Thanks of a Grateful Nation, an examination of the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm and its effects on the men and women who served in the Gulf War.

Johnson has guest starred on numerous TV series including The Best Years, Zoe Busiek: Wild Card, The Dresden Files and starred in several television movies including The Julie Posey Story (on Lifetime), The Man Who Saved Christmas with Jason Alexander and Ed Asner (CBS) and Terminal Invasion (Sci-Fi Channel).

He has been an occasional guest host of the current events program As It Happens on CBC Radio One.

Johnson made his professional theatre debut with Theatre New Brunswick where he starred in such productions as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Misery, Sleuth and in Peter Pan as Captain Hook. He has performed for over thirty years in theatres across Canada and has appeared on the stages of prominent Canadian theatre companies. He has worked extensively at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. At Soulpepper in Toronto, he won rave reviews[citation needed] for his performances in such productions as The Way of the World,[3] Jitters,[4] and The Play's the Thing[5] for which he received a Dora Award nomination. At the Stratford Festival, Johnson played Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.[6] Among his other noteworthy roles there, he also played Speed, the clownish servant in Two Gentlemen of Verona.[7]

In 2010, he made his Broadway debut as Bob in the musical Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.[8]

In 2019, he appeared in the television series Diggstown.

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1987-1994 Street Legal Charles 'Chuck' Tchobanian Main role
1988 A New Life Walter
1995 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Lance Deverell Episode: "Kung Fu Blues"
Mysterious Island Jack Pencroft Recurring role
1999 I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Principal Grand 15 episodes
2001 The Safety of Objects Wayne Christianson
2002 Terminal Invasion David Higgins TV movie
The Man Who Saved Christmas Sam Ryder TV movie
2005-2008 Delilah & Julius N/A (voice) 31 episodes
2007 The Dresden Files Charles Harding Episode: "The Boone Identity"
2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mark Carson Episode: "Broken Rhymes"
2017 The Blacklist Caleb Hess Episode: "The Endling (No. 44)"
2019-2022 Diggstown Reggie Thompson Recurring role
2022 Law & Order Judge Harold Leone Episode: "Only the Lonely"

References edit

  1. ^ Macrae, Craig (April 14, 2015). "'Street Legal' Cast Talk Steamy Scenes". ET Canada. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Johnson, C. David". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Athabasca University Press.
  3. ^ Hoile, Christopher (July 7, 2008). "Review - The Way of the World". Stage Door.
  4. ^ Crew, Robert (July 1, 2010). "Jitters: Hilarious love letter to Canadian actors". Toronto Star.
  5. ^ Hoile, Christopher (September 14, 2003). "Review - The Play's the Thing". Stage Door.
  6. ^ Taylor, Kate (June 2, 2001). "So long, farewell, why won't it say goodbye?". The Globe and Mail.
  7. ^ Schlueter, June (Feb 1, 2013). Two Gentlemen of Verona: Critical Essays. Routledge. p. 266. ISBN 9780815310204.
  8. ^ Ouzounian, Richard (October 22, 2010). "C. David Johnson: Into the outback with Priscilla". Toronto Star.

External links edit