Archie Johnson is a fictional character from the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...

crime drama ''

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', also referred to as ''CSI'' and ''CSI: Las Vegas'', is an American procedural forensics crime drama television series that ran on CBS from October 6, 2000, to September 27, 2015, spanning 15 seasons. This wa ...

'', portrayed by

Archie Kao Archie David Kao (born December 14, 1969) is an American actor and producer. He is best known to American audiences for series regulars roles on ''Chicago P.D.'', ''Power Rangers Lost Galaxy'' as well as long-running hit ''CSI: Crime Scene Inve ...

. He first appeared in the second season episode "Caged", broadcast on November 8, 2001. Archie is the lab's audiovisual technician. Kao originally made a guest appearance in one episode, before he was asked to return in the recurring role of Archie by the show's executive producer

Jerry Bruckheimer Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1943) is an American film and television Film producer, producer. He has been active in the genres of Action film, action, Drama film, drama, Fantasy film, fantasy, and Science fiction film, science fi ...

. Kao made his last appearance as Archie in the twelfth season episode "Split Decisions", which aired on April 4, 2012.

Casting

Actor

was originally offered a guest appearance in one episode of ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''. When the show's executive producer,

saw the episode, he told Kao's agent that he wanted him to play a recurring character on the show. Kao told Frank Mustac from the '' Fairfax Times'' that he was "stunned" to learn that Bruckheimer wanted him back and said the show had given him a renewed confidence. Kao stated that his character was not named after him and it was just a coincidence they shared the same first name. Kao felt lucky to be cast in the show due to Asian actors having "severely limited roles" to play on television. From his introduction in the show's second season, Kao appeared in every season until his departure in 2012. Kao explained that his character's job as an Audiovisual technician was not "as technical" as some of the other characters' jobs and what they have to deal with. He also stated " rchie Johnson iskind of a techie geek. He has a girlfriend. He drives a Harley and he likes ''Star Trek''."

Storylines

Archie works at the lab as an audiovisual technician, assisting the other CSIs in their cases. During an investigation at a computer-based business, Archie works out in the field, which he enjoys. Archie is revealed to be a fan of ''Star Trek'' and internet-based role-playing games. While assisting

Warrick Brown Warrick Brown (born 1971) is a fictional character in the CBS crime drama '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', portrayed by Gary Dourdan. Warrick appeared in all but five episodes until his death in the first episode of season nine, with the ex ...

(

Gary Dourdan Gary Dourdan (born Gary Robert Durdin: December 11, 1966) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Warrick Brown on the television series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,'' Shazza Zulu on the television series ''A Different World'' and ...

) in a case involving an apparent death by heat stroke, Archie says that he would like to die in his sleep by an

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus (s ...

. Along with the other lab technicians,

Wendy Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity ...

(

Liz Vassey Elizabeth Leigh Vassey (born August 9, 1972) is an American actress. Her most notable roles include Emily Ann Sago on ''All My Children'', Captain Liberty on ''The Tick'', Wendy Simms on ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', Lou on '' Brotherly L ...

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

(

Jon Wellner Jon Wellner (born July 11, 1975) is an American actor, best known for his role as toxicologist Henry Andrews on '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''. He has portrayed Andrews through the 2014–2015 season, his 10th with the show. He began his a ...

) and

Mandy Mandy or Mandie may refer to: People * Mandy (name), a female given name and nickname * Iván Mándy (1918-1995), Hungarian writer * Mark Mandy (born 1972), Irish retired high jumper * Philip Mandie (born 1942), a former judge on the Supreme Cou ...

(

Sheeri Rappaport Sheeri Rappaport (born October 27, 1977) is an American actress. She is most famous for portraying lab technician Mandy Webster on ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''. Rappaport made her television debut with a guest role on ''Clarissa Explains It ...

), Archie tries to help

David Hodges David Hall Hodges (born December 5, 1978) is an American songwriter and record producer from Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a studio contributor to the rock band Evanescence from 2000–2002. He has since had success co-writing and co–produci ...

(

Wallace Langham James Wallace Langham II (born March 11, 1965) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Phil the Head Writer on ''The Larry Sanders Show''. He has also played the roles of David Hodges on the crime drama television series '' ...

) figure out who

The Miniature Killer Natalie Davis (a.k.a. "The Miniature Serial Killer") is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', portrayed by Jessica Collins. The Miniature Killer was introduced in the seventh-season premiere; after a ...

is. Archie later takes over the role of handwriting analysis, saying he wants to expand his horizons and his pay check. Raymond Langston (

Laurence Fishburne Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor. He is a three time Emmy Award and Tony Award winning actor known for his roles on stage and screen. He has been hailed for his forceful, militant, and authoritative charact ...

) befriends Archie and notes that he has bought one of his books. Archie also compliments Raymond's use of

Mandarin Chinese Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language of ...

, showing that Archie is of

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

descent. Archie is sent undercover at a hotel along with

Greg Sanders Gregory Hojem Sanders is a fictional character portrayed by Eric Szmanda on the CBS crime drama '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' and its sequel, '' CSI: Vegas''. Greg appeared in every episode of the original ''CSI'', with the exception of "C ...

(

Eric Szmanda Eric Kyle Szmanda (; born July 24, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for having played Greg Sanders in the CBS police drama ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', a role he held from the show's beginning in 2000 until it ended in 2015. E ...

), Catherine Willows (

Marg Helgenberger Mary Marg Helgenberger (born November 16, 1958) is an American actress. She began her career in the early 1980s and first came to attention for playing the role of Siobhan Ryan on the daytime soap opera ''Ryan's Hope'' from 1982 to 1986. She is ...

) and Detective Vartann ( Alex Carter). There he installs a series of cameras, along with Greg, for a stakeout. When Archie is leaving the hotel, he trips on the stairs and falls, coming face to face with the body of a woman. Archie is visibly shaken at his discovery.

Reception

Lyle Masaki from

TheBacklot.com TheBacklot.com (TheBacklot), founded in January 2005 as AfterElton.com (AfterElton), was a culture website that focused on the portrayal of gay and bisexuality, bisexual men in the Mass media, media and was the companion site of AfterEllen.com (Af ...

praised Kao, saying "Kao was one of my reasons for watching ''CSI'' – until I realized he was horribly underused."

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Archie CSI: Crime Scene Investigation characters Fictional Chinese American people Fictional forensic scientists Television characters introduced in 2001