Tor Johnson

Karl Erik Tore Johansson (19 October 1903 – 12 May 1971), better known by the stage name Tor Johnson, was a Swedish professional wrestler and actor. As an actor, Johnson appeared in many B-movies, including some famously directed by Ed Wood. In professional wrestling, Johnson was billed as Thor Johnson and Super Swedish Angel.

Early life Johnson was born on 19 October 1903 in Brännkyrka, Stockholms län, Sweden as Karl Erik Tore Johansson to Karl Johan Johansson and Lovisa Kristina Pettersson. His death certificate and grave list 1903 as the year of his birth, contradicting published genealogy records. Johnson's wrestler's license renewal application to the State Athletic Commission of California, signed by Johnson in 1936, lists his date of birth as 19 October 1906.

Career

Johnson stood and weighed at his heaviest. He had a full head of blond 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. In the same year, Johnson was one of over 50 wrestlers who took part in a two-month Los Angeles tournament for California's version of the world title. His film career ended in the early 1960s, after he appeared in a string of low-budget, poorly-rated films. However, he continued to make appearances on television and made a number of commercials.

Tor Johnson used the ring name Super Swedish Angel to distinguish himself from Nils Phillip Olofsson who used the ring name Swedish Angel. The name was derived from wrestler Maurice Tillet, known as The French Angel.

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; writing for Turner Classic Movies, film critic Donald Liebenson described Johnson's performance in Plan 9 as "gonzo." Johnson 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." 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 Johnson died of heart failure in San Fernando, California, at the age of 67 and is buried at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, in Santa Clarita, 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, where Johnson was depicted as "Tor", a slow-witted, white-eyed lummox based on Johnson's persona in Ed Wood's films. The first of the one-page comics, "Tor Johnson at Home", was published in a 1981 issue of Robert Crumb's Weirdo, and the original artwork was purchased by television writer and producer Eddie Gorodetsky.

A latex mask based on Johnson's face, sculpted by Pat Newman for Don Post Studios, is described as "the best-selling Halloween horror mask of the late 1960s-early 1970s".

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1934 Registered Nurse Sonnevich Uncredited Kid Millions Torturer Uncredited 1935 Some Class Tough Guy Short, Uncredited Man on the Flying Trapeze Tosoff Uncredited Swing Out the Blues Weightlifter 1944 Ghost Catchers Mug Uncredited The Canterville Ghost Bold Sir Guy Uncredited Lost in a Harem Majordomo Uncredited 1945 Sudan Slaver Uncredited 1947 Road to Rio Sandor Uncredited 1948 State of the Union Wrestler Uncredited Behind Locked Doors The Champ Uncredited" Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion Abou Ben 1951 The Lemon Drop Kid Super Swedish Angel Dear Brat Uncredited Angels in the Outfield Wrestler On TV Uncredited 1952 The San Francisco Story Buck Uncredited Lady in the Iron Mask Renac Uncredited 1953 Houdini Strong Man Uncredited 1955 Bride of the Monster Lobo You're Never Too Young Train passenger Uncredited 1956 Carousel Strongman Uncredited The Black Sleep Mr. Curry 1957 Journey to Freedom Giant Turk The Unearthly Lobo Johnson's character famously delivers the line, "Time for go to bed." Plan 9 from Outer Space Inspector Daniel Clay 1959 Night of the Ghouls Lobo 1961 The Beast of Yucca Flats Joseph Javorsky / The Beast

Television Year Series Role Episode 1953–1954 You Are There "The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown" "The Surrender of Corregidor" 1954 General Electric Theater Bald Man "To Lift a Feather" 1954 Rocky Jones, Space Ranger Naboro "Inferno in Space" 1956 The Adventures of Hiram Holliday Bandini the Strongman "Dancing Mouse" 1959 You Bet Your Life Tor Johnson #59-11 1960 Adventures in Paradise Miko "Once Around the Circuit" "The Lady From South Chicago" 1960 Peter Gunn Bruno "See No Evil" 1960 Bonanza Busthead Brannigan "San Francisco" 1961 Shirley Temple's Storybook The Strongman "Pippi Longstocking"