Tor Johnson

Tor Johnson
Tor Johnson in Plan 9 from Outer Space
Born	Karl Oscar Tore Johansson (1903-10-19)19 October 1903 Kalmar län, Sweden
Died	12 May 1971(1971-05-12) (aged 67) San Fernando, California, U.S.
Other names	Super Swedish Angel Thor Johnson
Occupation	Professional wrestler, actor
Years active	1934–1961

Tore Johansson (19 October 1903 – 12 May 1971), better known by the stage name Tor Johnson, was a Swedish professional wrestler (billed as The Super Swedish Angel) and actor.^[1] He appeared in many B-movies including some Ed Wood films.

Early life

Johnson was born in Kalmar län, Sweden, the son of Karl J. Johansson and Lovisa Petersson.

Career

Johnson in The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961)

Johnson weighed 181 kilograms (400 pounds) at his heaviest. He had a full head of black hair, but shaved it to maintain an imposing and villainous appearance in his wrestling and acting work. He began getting bit parts in films upon moving to California, usually as the strongman or weightlifter, as early as 1934. His film career ended in the early 1960s, after he appeared in a string of poorly rated films. However, he continued to make appearances on television and made a number of commercials.^[2]

During his career as an actor, Johnson befriended director Ed Wood, who directed him in a number of films, including Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 from Outer Space. He was very friendly to work with; actress Valda Hansen, who worked with Johnson in 1959's Night of the Ghouls, described him as "like a big sugar bun."^[3] During this period, Johnson appeared as a guest contestant on the quiz show You Bet Your Life, during which he showed the show's host, Groucho Marx, his "scariest face." Marx ran off the stage in mock terror, then returned and pleaded: "Don't make that face again!"

Death and legacy

In 1971, Johnson died from heart failure at the San Fernando Valley Hospital in San Fernando, California. He was buried at the Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, California.

Johnson was portrayed by wrestler George "The Animal" Steele in Tim Burton's film Ed Wood (1994).

Johnson was featured extensively in the early work of cartoonist Drew Friedman. The comics supposedly follow Johnson as he becomes involved in various seedy adventures, although he is depicted as a slow-witted, white-eyed lummox based on Johnson's persona in Ed Wood's films.

In popular culture

In the film Mad Max (1979), the title character, played by Mel Gibson, can be seen wearing a Tor Johnson mask in an effort to cheer up his wife, while preparing to leave for a day's work. Numerous films Johnson appeared in would be riffed by Mystery Science Theater 3000, his unique appearance making him instantly recognizable to the cast.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tor Johnson.

• Tor Johnson at the Internet Movie Database
• Tor Johnson at AllMovie
• Tor Johnson at Find a Grave