Wil Johnson

Wilbert Charles Johnson (born 18 April 1965) is an English actor, who has had notable television roles in Waking the Dead and Babyfather, and on stage in Othello. He played Dom Andrews in Emmerdale from 2012 to 2014.

Early life Johnson was born to Jamaican parents in Muswell Hill, London and raised in Tottenham. His mother invested in stocks and his father worked for UPS. Johnson had no interest in music while he was in primary school, but after he filled in a role for an absent drummer, he changed his mind.

He went to Mountview Drama School in Crouch End, London. He also joined another drama group at the Haringey Theatre. He also went to a dance group and learned ballet, contemporary dancing, and break dancing, which he performed for about seven years. He also attended National Youth Theatre for three years.

In 2004, Johnson played the title character in the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company's Othello.

He also played Marcus Kirby in the BBC One school-based drama Waterloo Road. He departed in the second half of the series.

In 2010, he appeared in In a Better World (film) as 'Dr. Najeeb'.

He also performed in a play, called The Swallowing Dark at the Liverpool Playhouse and Theatre503. In 2011, he also starred as gangster boss Big Mike in Anuvahood and in 2008 as Big Man in Adulthood.

In November 2011, Johnson appeared as 'Sean Dolan' a Consultant paediatrician in BBC One's Holby City.

In 2013, he appeared as a gangster in a film thriller called Life Outside.

In 2013, he also co-produced with Christian Ashaiku a film called Disorientated Generation (about a Nigerian man living in London). The film was partially funded by Enfield Council,

In 2016, Johnson was cast as the Earl of Kent in the Talawa Theatre Company and Royal Exchange Manchester co-production of King Lear. Johnson received praise for his performance, with The Guardian writing "giving depth to straight simplicity" and the Manchester Theatre Awards saying that "... wrongest servant Kent is played with passion and often with humour by Wil Johnson".

In 2016, Johnson received the British Urban Film Festival honorary award from fellow actor Charles Venn for 30+ years outstanding contribution to film and television. Johnson played the role of Uncle Brod in the 2018 revival of Leave Taking by Winsome Pinnock at the Bush Theatre.

He is an advocate of colour-blind casting in British television:

Personal life Johnson has six children.

Filmography Film

Television Year Television Role Notes 1987 Casualty Paul Episode: "The Raid"1988 London's Burning Junior Episode: "Series 1, Episode 1" ScreenPlay Dekko Episode: "Home Front"1989 Dramarama Kevin Episode: "Snap Decision" Starting Out Leo Young Recurring role; 4 episodes 1990 The Bill Dom Reeves Episode: "Burnside Knew My Father" 1993 Mr Don & Mr George Episode: "There's Been a Thing"1994 The Bill Carl Paston Episode: "Dirty Laundry" Anna Lee Stevie Johnson Recurring role; 5 episodes 1994–1995 Cracker Skelton Recurring role; 10 episodes 1995 The Bill Thomas Gadiki Episode: "Neutral Territory" 1997 Billy Elizee Episode: "Solid Evidence" 2000–2002 Clocking Off Steve Robinson Recurring role; 14 episodes 2000–2011 Waking the Dead Spencer Jordan Series regular; 92 episodes 2001 Babyfather Beres Episode: "Series 1, Episode 1" 2010 Dispatches Narrator Episode: "Gun Nation" 2010–2011 Waterloo Road Marcus Kirby Series regular; 10 episodes 2011–2013 Holby City Sean Dolan Recurring role; 5 episodes 2012–2014 Emmerdale Dominic Andrews Series regular; 129 episodes 2014 Moving On Peter Jackson Episode: "Two Brothers" 2015 Lewis Dax Kinneson Episode: "Magnum Opus"2016 The Five Young Ray Miniseries; 4 episodes Hollyoaks Lionel Albright Recurring role; 2 episodes 2017 Hetty Feather Charlie Episode: "Cannon Fodder" 2017–2020 Outlander Joe Abernathy Recurring role; 5 episodes 2018 Vera Gary Whenchurch Episode: "Darkwater" 2019 Carnival Row Puck Butcher Episode: "Aisling"2021 Death in Paradise Emmet Peterson Episode: "I'll Never Let You Go" The Larkins Old Reg Recurring role; 5 episodes 2022 House of the Dragon Ser Vaemond Velaryon Recurring role; 4 episodes 2023 COBRA Ben Fanshawe Recurring role; 2 episodes