Raymond Edward Johnson

Raymond Edward Johnson (July 24, 1911 – August 15, 2001) was an American radio and stage actor born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Before pursuing a career in performance, he worked as a bank teller, later training at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago. He is best remembered for his role as the host and narrator of the radio thriller series Inner Sanctum Mysteries.

Johnson launched his broadcasting career in Chicago, where his early credits included a recurring role as Bill Sutter on Edgar A. Guest's dramatic serial Welcome Valley, which ran from 1932 to 1937, and appearances on The National Farm and Home Hour in dramatic sketches as the Forest Ranger, a role also performed by Don Ameche. His Chicago years brought him into collaboration with writer and director Arch Oboler, for whom he appeared on the Lights Out series. When both men relocated to New York City, Johnson continued working with Oboler on Arch Oboler's Plays, appearing notably as the title character in "The Ugliest Man in the World," a role he performed five times, and as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in "This Lonely Heart," both from 1939.

In New York, producer Himan Brown cast Johnson as the host of Inner Sanctum Mysteries beginning with its first broadcast in 1941. Introducing himself as "Your host, Raymond," Johnson became identified with the character's chilling preambles, morbid wordplay, and his signature sign-off, an elongated "Pleasant dreaaaams, hmmmmmmm?" He remained with the series until 1945, when he entered the Army. Though Paul McGrath replaced him as host for the remainder of the program's run, Johnson retained the "Raymond" name. He later hosted the radio adaptation of the science fiction series Tales of Tomorrow.

Across both Chicago and New York, Johnson was a consistent presence in daytime radio drama, taking on romantic leads in numerous soap operas. His serial credits included the role of Dr. Bernard on Big Sister, Ellis Smith on the radio version of The Guiding Light, Hal Lambert on Brave Tomorrow in 1943, Robert Atwood on Kate Hopkins, Angel of Mercy, and Paul Morrison on Valiant Lady. His sister, Dora Johnson Remington, was also active in the genre, playing Evey on Ma Perkins. Johnson's other radio work encompassed Mr. District Attorney in 1939, Roger Kilgore, Public Defender, Calling All Cars, Don Winslow of the Navy, Mandrake the Magician, and anthology programs including Cavalcade of America, Gangbusters, Dimension X, X Minus One, Words at War, Famous Jury Trials, and Cloak and Dagger. On March 21 and 22, 1944, he provided the voice of Abraham Lincoln on the Decca recording of Earl Robinson and Millard Lampell's folk cantata The Lonesome Train.

Johnson's Broadway career brought him to Sidney Kingsley's drama The Patriots in 1943, in which he starred as Thomas Jefferson. His screen work included the role of Alexander Graham Bell in the 1947 film Mr. Bell. Johnson was married to radio actress Betty Caine.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis from his forties onward, Johnson experienced increasing physical limitations in his later decades. Despite this, he remained a regular participant at old-time radio conventions, performing in recreations and reprising the "Raymond" character, at times from a portable bed or wheelchair. He died shortly after his ninetieth birthday on August 15, 2001.