Lynn-Holly Johnson

Lynn-Holly Johnson
Johnson in 2008
Born
Lynn Holly Johnson

Occupation(s)Figure skater, actress
Years active1978–2009
Children2
Websitelynnhollyjohnson.com

Lynn-Holly Johnson is an American retired figure skater and former actress. After achieving some success as a figure skater in the mid-1970s, she began an acting career, including a Golden Globe-nominated role in 1978's Ice Castles and her role as Bibi Dahl in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

Early life and career

Lynn Holly Johnson was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Margaret, a housewife, and Alan Johnson, a general contractor.[1][2] Johnson added the hyphen to her name after her roommate wrote Johnson's name that way.[1] She graduated from Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois.[3]

Johnson won the silver medal at the novice level of the 1974 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She gave up competitive skating in 1977 to turn professional and join the Ice Capades, and subsequently began an acting career, making her film debut in Ice Castles, in which she portrayed Alexis "Lexie" Winston, a figure skater who is blinded by a blood clot in her brain. The film, a romantic drama co-starring Robby Benson, was a minor success in December 1978, grossing $18 million in the US.[4] Johnson, who was described as "an appealing young woman who actually happens to be a good skater who can act" by film critic Roger Ebert,[5] was nominated for a Golden Globe as "Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress" for her performance in the film.[citation needed]

Johnson was subsequently cast in the lead role of the Disney horror drama The Watcher in the Woods. The film received a limited release in April 1980, but it was soon withdrawn and not given a wider release until October 1981. Also in 1981, Johnson had a minor supporting role as Bibi Dahl in the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only . In For Your Eyes Only, she played a figure skater who has a crush on James Bond, played by Roger Moore. In 1984, Johnson starred in Where the Boys Are '84, a remake of the 1960 film of the same name. The film was a critical and box-office failure.

In 1996, Johnson retired from acting to concentrate on her family; her last acting role at that time was a made-for-television film, Fugitive X: Innocent Target.[citation needed]

In 2007, she returned to acting in a community theater production of It's a Wonderful Life.[6]

Personal life

Johnson currently lives with her husband and their two children in Los Angeles, California.[7] In January 2010, Johnson suffered a stroke while on a flight from Florida to Los Angeles.[7] Upon medical intervention, Johnson learned that the stroke had been brought on by a patent foramen ovale, a congenital heart defect that had gone undiagnosed.[8] She subsequently underwent open heart surgery to treat the condition.[7][8]

Johnson's daughter, Jensie, is a competitive gymnast and a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics team.[9]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1978 Ice Castles Alexis "Lexie" Winston
1980 The Watcher in the Woods Jan Curtis
1981 For Your Eyes Only Bibi Dahl
1984 Where the Boys Are '84 Laurie Jameson
1986 Angel River Jensie
1987 Alien Predators Samantha Alternative title: The Falling
1988 The Sisterhood Marya Alternative title: Caged Woman
1989 Hyper Space Arias Christensen Alternative title: Space Rangers
1990 Out of Sight, Out of Mind Kathy Jordan Alternative titles: Sight Unseen
Out of Sight, Out of Her Mind
Diggin' Up Business Tesia Papadapacropolis Alternative title: Say Bye-Bye
1993 The Criminal Mind Mrs. Augustine
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1982 CHiPs Ellen Getraer Episode: "Fallout"
1983 Matt Houston Cindy Gaines Episode: "A Deadly Parlay"
Trapper John, M.D. Dani Piper Episode: "I Only Have Ice for You"
1984 More Than Murder Sandy Television movie
1986 MacGyver Ingrid Bannister Episode: "The Enemy Within"
1987 The Law & Harry McGraw Susan Bishop Episode: "Angela's Secret"
1987 Ohara Becki Dutton Episode: "Hot Rocks"
1996 Fugitive X: Innocent Target Kara Television movie
2009 Tales from Dark Fall Prof. Carlo Episode: "Hit or Miss"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result
1980 Golden Globe Awards Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress Ice Castles Nominated
1985 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actress Where the Boys Are '84 Won

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (February 3, 1979). "Lynn holly Johnson Comes By Talent Naturally". Toledo Blade. Retrieved June 17, 2009. [dead link]
  2. ^ Brady, Shirley (May 15, 2000). "Good Skate". People. Vol. 53, no. 19. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  3. ^ Williams, Albert (February 8, 1990). "Dance Notes: Amy Rose, a Glenview girl in the ABT". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Ice Castles: The Numbers". the-numbers.com.
  5. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 29, 1979). "Ice Castles". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 11, 2006.
  6. ^ "Newport Beach Repertory Theater Presents Auditions for 17th Year Production It's a Wonderful Life" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c Sharon, Keith (February 7, 2013). "The Bond girl and her very public stroke". Orange County Register.
  8. ^ a b Sharon, Keith (February 7, 2013). "Bond girl gets some new lines". Orange County Register.
  9. ^ "Jensie Givens - Gymnastics".