The UPM staff was saddened to learn that Van Johnson passed away today at the age of 92. He died of natural causes.Johnson as an immensely popular movie star, appearing in a series of blockbuster war films--A Guy Named Joe, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, Weekend at the Waldorf, and Battleground. Perennially a leading man opposite June Allyson, Esther Williams, Judy Garland, and Janet Leigh, he rose to fame radiating the sunshine image that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer chose for him. Johnson portrayed himself as an affable, wholesome boy-next-door. Legions of adoring moviegoers were captivated by this idealized persona that generated huge box-office profits for the studio.
In 2001 UPM published Van Johnson: MGM's Golden Boy by Ronald Davis. This is the only full-length biography of the film star.
View Van Johnson's full profile at IMDB.
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