Jessica Williams (born April 29, 1985),[1] known professionally as Punkie Johnson, is an American comedian, actress, and writer. Johnson was a stand-up comedian at The Comedy Store, and became a featured player on Saturday Night Live starting in its forty-sixth season.
Punkie Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jessica Williams April 29, 1985 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Nicholls State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
Early life
Jessica Williams was raised by her mother Mary Johnson in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she attended Catholic and public schools, graduating in May 2003[1] from McDonough 35 High School.[1][2] Johnson studied at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, where she graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies.[1]
Career
Johnson began her career as a stand-up comedian. She later joined The Comedy Store in Los Angeles as a paid regular.[2] In 2019, Johnson performed at Just for Laughs.[3]
As an actress, Johnson appeared in various television series such as Space Force, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Corporate, and Adam Ruins Everything.[4][5]
Saturday Night Live
In 2020, Johnson was cast as a featured player on Saturday Night Live, starting in its forty-sixth season. Johnson is the eighth Black female cast member in the show's history and the second Black LGBT woman to be a cast member (following Danitra Vance) and the seventh LGBTQ cast member overall.[4][5][6]
Personal life
Johnson is openly lesbian. She and her wife have been in a relationship since 2002.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Lot | Punkie | Short film |
| 2020 | Sixteen Thousand Dollars | Jo'Nique | Short film |
| 2020 | The Adventures of Whit | Detective | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Take My Wife | Episode: "Episode 205" | |
| 2018 | Adam Ruins Everything | Ava | Episode: "Adam Ruins Guns" |
| 2019 | Corporate | Taylor the Tattoo Artist | Episode: "The Fall" |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Dance Biter | Episode: "Angela Bassett Is the Baddest Bitch" |
| 2019 | Crank Yankers | Shasta | Episode: "Jimmy Kimmel, Kathy Griffin & Jeff Ross" |
| 2020 | Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers | Herself | |
| 2020 | Space Force | Staff Sergeant Kiki Rhodes | Episode: "Space Flag" |
| 2020–present | Saturday Night Live | Various characters | Featured cast member |
References
- ^ a b c d "Art and Creativity Has Absolutely Nothing to do With Gender by Punkie Johnson of MewNowTV.com's TALKIN' POINTS". Film Courage. January 5, 2016. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Punkie Johnson". The Stand NYC. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ a b Reynolds, Daniel (September 16, 2020). "SNL Adds Black Lesbian Cast Member Punkie Johnson". The Advocate.
- ^ a b Steinberg, Brian (September 16, 2020). "Jim Carrey to Play Joe Biden in Next Season of 'Saturday Night Live'". Variety.
- ^ a b Ryan, Patrick (September 16, 2020). "'SNL': Meet the three new cast members joining Season 46". USA Today.
- ^ White, Peter (September 16, 2020). "'SNL': Jim Carrey Set To Play Joe Biden As NBC Show Adds Three Featured Players & Will Have Limited Audience". Deadline.