Arch Johnson

Archibald Winchester Johnson, known professionally as Arch Johnson, was born on March 14, 1922, in Minnesota, and died on October 9, 1997, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Maryland. A stage and television actor, he appeared in more than 100 television programs over the course of his career and was active on Broadway from 1955 to 1980.

Johnson served with the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during World War II before pursuing his education at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his acting career in Philadelphia during the 1940s and 1950s, working in community theater as both an actor and a director. His early stage work included performances with the Plays and Players Theatre, where he was part of the world premiere of Stalag 17. He subsequently spent two years studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York.

His Broadway career encompassed several productions across different genres. Johnson appeared in the original 1957 production of West Side Story and returned for the Broadway revival of that show in 1980, making him the only actor from the original stage cast to participate in the revival. He also toured Europe with the production. Additional Broadway credits include Saint Joan, The Terrible Swift Sword, and the comedy The Happiest Millionaire. Johnson also appeared in the original Broadway production of Other People's Money, in which he originated the role of Jorge, a part later played by Gregory Peck in the film adaptation.

On television, Johnson built a substantial career as a character actor. He was a series regular on It's Always Jan from 1955 to 1956, Peter Loves Mary from 1960 to 1961, The Asphalt Jungle in 1961, in which he played police Captain Gus Honochek, and Camp Runamuck from 1965 to 1966, where he portrayed Commander Wivenhoe. He reprised his Honochek character in the 1961 theatrical film The Lawbreakers. In 1973, he appeared in The Sting, playing the role of Combs.

Johnson made five appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Karl Magovern in the 1961 episode "The Case of the Travelling Treasure," Gerald Thornton in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Golden Oranges," Marvin Fremont in the 1964 episode "The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands," and John Ruskin in the 1960 episode "The Case of the Singular Double." He made four appearances each on Daniel Boone, Gunsmoke, and The F.B.I., and five on Bewitched. In 1963, he portrayed Harry Johanson in the Rawhide episode "Incident at Paradise" and appeared as outlaw Sam Wellman in the Laramie episode "No Place to Run." His many other television credits included The Twilight Zone, Decoy, Johnny Ringo, Hennesey, The Big Valley, Zane Grey Theater, Bat Masterson, The Roaring 20s, Lawman, Going My Way, Mr. Novak, and Empire and its successor series Redigo, both featuring Richard Egan.

Johnson was married to Jean, and together they had five children. After retiring, he relocated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he tutored literacy programs in Westover and participated in an Alternatives to Violence program with the Religious Society of Friends. He died of cancer on October 9, 1997.