Lynn-Holly Johnson
Encyclopedia
Lynn-Holly Johnson is an American professional ice skater and 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
.
, Illinois
to Margaret, a housewife, and Alan Johnson, a general contractor. She has a brother, Gregg, and an older sister, Kimberle. Johnson added the hyphen
to her name after her roommate signed Johnson's name that way.
Johnson, a professional figure skater, placed second at the novice level of the 1974 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She gave up amateur competitive skating in 1977 to join the Ice Capades
, and subsequently began an acting career, making her film debut in Ice Castles, where she played a figure skater. The film, a romantic drama co-starring Robby Benson
, was a minor success in December 1978, grossing $18 million domestically. 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
, was nominated for a Golden Globe as "New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female
" for her performance in the film.
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 was pulled from theatres and not given a wider release until October 1981. Also in 1981, Johnson starred as Bibi Dahl
in the James Bond
movie For Your Eyes Only
. In that movie she played yet another ice-skater who unsuccessfully yet comically attempts to seduce an unwilling and much older James Bond (played by Roger Moore
).
, Fugitive X: Innocent Target. Johnson currently lives in Newport Beach
, California
with her husband, architect Kelly Givens, and their two children. She has, for the most part, gone by the name Lynn-Holly Givens since her marriage. In the fall of 2007 she returned to acting in a community theater production of It's a Wonderful Life
.
Ice Castles
Ice Castles is a 1978 American romantic drama, starring Lynn-Holly Johnson and Robby Benson.It is the story of Alexis, a young figure skater, and her rise and fall from super stardom. Tragedy strikes when, following a freak accident, Lexie loses her sight, leaving her to hide away in the privacy of...
.
Early life and career
Johnson was born Lynn Holly Johnson in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to Margaret, a housewife, and Alan Johnson, a general contractor. She has a brother, Gregg, and an older sister, Kimberle. Johnson added the hyphen
Hyphen
The hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The use of hyphens is called hyphenation. The hyphen should not be confused with dashes , which are longer and have different uses, or with the minus sign which is also longer...
to her name after her roommate signed Johnson's name that way.
Johnson, a professional figure skater, placed second at the novice level of the 1974 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She gave up amateur competitive skating in 1977 to join the Ice Capades
Ice Capades
The Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympicand National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition....
, and subsequently began an acting career, making her film debut in Ice Castles, where she played a figure skater. The film, a romantic drama co-starring Robby Benson
Robby Benson
Robby Benson is an American film and television actor, television director, educator and singer.-Early life:Benson was born Robin David Segal in Dallas, Texas, the son of Freda Ann , a singer, actress, and business promotions manager, and Jerry Segal, a writer...
, was a minor success in December 1978, grossing $18 million domestically. 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
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
, was nominated for a Golden Globe as "New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Female
Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actress
The Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress originated in 1948. Between 1954 and 1965, multiple winners were announced. The category was discontinued following the 1983 ceremonies.-Winners:*1948: Lois Maxwell*1950: Mercedes McCambridge...
" for her performance in the film.
Johnson was subsequently cast in the lead role of the Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
horror drama, The Watcher in the Woods
The Watcher in the Woods
The Watcher in the Woods is a 1980 American-British mystery and horror film from Buena Vista Distribution Company. Based on the 1976 novel by Florence Engel Randall, it is a live action movie that, though predominantly a family oriented work, also contains elements of the mystery, thriller, horror,...
. The film received a limited release in April 1980, but was pulled from theatres and not given a wider release until October 1981. Also in 1981, Johnson starred as Bibi Dahl
Bibi Dahl
Bibi Dahl is a fictional character in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. She was played by the American ice skater and actress Lynn-Holly Johnson....
in the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
movie For Your Eyes Only
For Your Eyes Only (film)
For Your Eyes Only is the twelfth spy film in the James Bond series and the fifth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It marked the directorial debut of John Glen, who had worked as editor and second unit director in three other Bond films. The screenplay by Richard Maibaum...
. In that movie she played yet another ice-skater who unsuccessfully yet comically attempts to seduce an unwilling and much older James Bond (played by Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
).
Personal life
In 1996, Johnson quit acting to concentrate on her family; her last acting role at that time was a made-for-television filmTelevision movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
, Fugitive X: Innocent Target. Johnson currently lives in Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with her husband, architect Kelly Givens, and their two children. She has, for the most part, gone by the name Lynn-Holly Givens since her marriage. In the fall of 2007 she returned to acting in a community theater production of It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Ice Castles Ice Castles Ice Castles is a 1978 American romantic drama, starring Lynn-Holly Johnson and Robby Benson.It is the story of Alexis, a young figure skater, and her rise and fall from super stardom. Tragedy strikes when, following a freak accident, Lexie loses her sight, leaving her to hide away in the privacy of... |
Alexis Winston | |
| 1980 | The Watcher in the Woods | Jan Curtis | |
| 1981 | For Your Eyes Only For Your Eyes Only (film) For Your Eyes Only is the twelfth spy film in the James Bond series and the fifth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It marked the directorial debut of John Glen, who had worked as editor and second unit director in three other Bond films. The screenplay by Richard Maibaum... |
Bibi Dahl | |
| 1984 | Where the Boys Are '84 Where the Boys Are '84 Where the Boys Are '84 is a 1984 remake of the 1960 teen sex comedy film Where the Boys Are, starring Lisa Hartman, Lorna Luft, Wendy Schaal and Lynn-Holly Johnson... |
Laurie Jameson | |
| 1986 | Angel River | Jensie | |
| 1987 | Alien Predator The Falling The Falling is a 1987 movie starring Dennis Christopher, Martin Hewitt, and Lynn-Holly Johnson. It is currently available for instant streaming on Netflix... |
Samantha | Filmed in 1984. Alternative title: The Falling |
| 1988 | The Sisterhood | Marya | Alternative title: Caged Woman |
| 1989 | Hyper Space | Arias Christensen | |
| 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 CHiPs CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol... |
Ellen Getraer | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Matt Houston Matt Houston Matt Houston is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1985. Created by Lawrence Gordon, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling.-Synopsis:... |
Cindy Gaines | 1 episode |
| Trapper John, M.D. Trapper John, M.D. Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986.... |
1 episode | ||
| 1984 | More Than Murder | Sandy | Television movie |
| 1986 | MacGyver MacGyver MacGyver is an American action-adventure television series created by Lee David Zlotoff. Henry Winkler and John Rich were the executive producers. The show ran for seven seasons on ABC in the United States and various other networks abroad from 1985 to 1992. The series was filmed in Los Angeles... |
Ingrid Bannister | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Fugitive X: Innocent Target | Kara | Television movie |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Golden Globe Award | Nominated | Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actress | Ice Castles |
| 1985 | Golden Raspberry Award | Won | Worst Supporting Actress Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress The Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress is an award presented at the annual Golden Raspberry Awards to the worst supporting actress of the previous year... |
Where the Boys Are '84 |
External links
- Official website
- DeLorenzo's Dugout interview (October 16, 1998)
- Lynn Holly Johnson Interview