Van Johnson
1916 – 2008

Van Johnson

American actor (1916–2008)

film actortelevision actordancerstage actorsinger
Born
1916-08-25, Newport
Died
2008-12-12
Birthplace state
Rhode Island

Biography

Van Johnson was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1916 and died in 2008. He worked as a film actor, television actor, dancer, stage actor, and singer across a career spanning more than 50 years from 1940 to 1992. He was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during and after World War II, often appearing as young military servicemen or in musicals.

Occupation

Van Johnson is recorded as a film actor, a television actor, a dancer, a stage actor, a singer and a actor, born in Rhode Island (1916–2008).

Connections to Rhode Island

Van Johnson was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1916. Explore other notable figures from Rhode Island, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Rhode IslandRhode Islandhistory ›Historic sites in Rhode Island
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Van Johnson came from Newport. A full Aubrey report on Newport pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Rhode Island

Other historical figures born in Rhode Island, ranked by historical prominence.

H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
American writer and editor (1890–1937)
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy
American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter (1933–2023)
Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Buzzi
American actress, comedian, and singer
Matthew C. Perry
Matthew C. Perry
American naval officer (1794–1858)
Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich
American film director (1918–1983)
Aaron Beck
Aaron Beck
American psychiatrist, researcher, therapist
Frank Caprio
Frank Caprio
American lawyer and politician (1936–2025)

Frequently asked about Van Johnson

Who was Van Johnson?
Van Johnson was American actor (1916–2008), born in Rhode Island (1916 – 2008).
When and where was Van Johnson born?
Van Johnson was born on 1916-08-25 in Newport.
When did Van Johnson die?
Van died on 2008-12-12.
What was Van Johnson known for?
Van Johnson is recorded as a film actor, a television actor, a dancer, a stage actor, a singer and a actor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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