Comedian and actor Anthony “AJ” Johnson, best known for his parts in “Friday” and “House Party,” has died.
He was 55.
Johnson’s nephew said that the actor “was found lifeless in a store earlier this month in Los Angeles and rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead,” per TMZ. The news was confirmed to The Wrap.
Further details surrounding his cause of death have not been released.
Johnson first became a household name after starring as E.Z.E. in the 1990’s “House Party.” He went on to star in a series of successful mainstream movies, including “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Menace II Society,” “BAP*S,” “House Party 3,” “How to Be a Player,” and more.
His television credits include “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “The Parent’ Hood,” “Martin,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “South Central,” “Malcom & Eddie,” “Moesha,” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.”
There were reports that Johnson would be reprising his role in the upcoming movie “Last Friday the fourth and final installment in the franchise.
“Friday” was released in 1995, and focused on two friends, played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, who get into trouble with a known villain in their South Central Los Angeles. The movie cost $10 million to make and grossed $28 million around the world. So far, there have been two sequels—“Next Friday,” which cost $11 million and grossed $60 million in the global box office, and “Friday After Next,” which had a similar budget to the first two movies and raked in $33.5 million at the box office.
Johnson’s father was also a well-known movie stuntman and co-founded the Black Stuntman’s Association.
