Johnny Johnston (December 1, 1915 – January 6, 1996) was an American actor and singer who was popular in the 1940s.

Early years

He was born John Clifford Johnston in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

Radio

In the late 1930s, Johnston had his own program on

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-Blue.

Recordings

Johnston had several hits on the

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label.

Personal life

Johnston was married five times, and had five children. One of his marriages was to actress Kathryn Grayson at an August 22, 1947 ceremony in Carmel, California. Grayson was his second wife. On October 7, 1948, the couple's only child, daughter Patricia "Patty Kate" Kathryn Johnston was born. Grayson and Johnston separated on November 15, 1950. On October 3, 1951, Grayson was given a divorce from Johnston on the grounds of mental cruelty. Johnston's ''

This Time for Keeps ''This Time for Keeps'' is a 1947 American romantic musical film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, Johnnie Johnston and opera singer Lauritz Melchior. Produced by MGM, it is about a soldier, returning home ...

'' co-star,

Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Oly ...

, claimed in her 1999 autobiography that while making the film, Johnston would read Grayson's intimate letters aloud to the girls in his fan club, including the "all-too-graphic details concerning what she liked about his love-making." Later he operated a nightclub in New York City. On July 31, 1952, Johnston married Shirley I. Carmel in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Hit recordings

Filmography

* '' Star Spangled Rhythm'' (1942) * '' Priorities on Parade'' (1942) * ''

'' (1947) * '' Unchained'' (1955) * '' Rock Around the Clock'' (1956)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Johnnie 1915 births 1996 deaths Capitol Records artists American male pop singers Traditional pop music singers Musicians from St. Louis American radio personalities Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players Male actors from St. Louis American people of French descent American people of Italian descent American people of Scottish descent 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers Nightclub performers Singers from Missouri 20th-century American male singers