Actor and comedian Anthony “A.J.” Johnson, who is most remembered for his role as the loud-mouthed panhandler Ezal in the 1995 comedy hit “Friday,” was found unresponsive in a Los Angeles store earlier this month and later pronounced dead, according to reports.
He was 55.
Officials have not yet disclosed the cause of his death, TMZ reported.
Deadline reported that Johnson passed away Sept. 6.
According to the actor’s nephew, Johnson was discovered “lifeless” on the floor of a Los Angeles business and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the outlet reported.
Johnson’s publicist LyNea Bell confirmed his death in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
“We lost an icon. He will be greatly missed,” Bell told the outlet. “He has left with us amazing memories of his laughter, dynamic acting skills, but most of all his enormous personality and heart of gold. We will be in constant prayer for his entire family including his wife Lexis, three children, brother Edward ‘Peanut’ Smith, sister Sheila, and lifetime manager and friend Mike D. Please. Give them the time they need to process and grieve such a huge loss.”
Johnson earned his first acting credit in the 1990 movie “House Party” alongside the pioneering hip hop duo Kid N Play and fellow comedians Robin Harris, John Witherspoon — both now deceased — and Martin Lawrence. Witherspoon, who also co-starred with Johnson in “Friday,” died in 2019.
Like many other Black stand-up comics of his era, Johnson regularly appeared on “Def Comedy Jam,” an HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons that ran from 1992 to 1997.
Around the same time he made appearances in numerous other films including “Lethal Weapon 3” and “Menace II Society.” But it was his hilarious role alongside Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in “Friday” that made him a sensational fan favorite.
His character in the film was a relatable portrayal of a moocher who roams the neighborhood all day, scheming for a buck or looking for a handout. In one of his most memorable scenes, he fakes a slip-and-fall accident in a corner store, while screaming “My neck! My back!”
Numerous tributes poured in on social media Monday honoring the veteran funnyman.
Throughout his entertainment career, Johnson guest-starred in countless movies and TV shows, including “Moesha,” “Malcolm & Eddie,” “Martin,” “The Players Club,” and the series “I Got the Hook Up.”
He had been planning to reprise his role as Ezal in the upcoming movie “Last Friday,” the fourth and final installment in the sequel which is set to be released in 2023, according to imdb.com.
Johnson was born May 5, 1965, in Compton, California. He is survived by his wife, three children and a brother, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This is a developing story. Please stay with AJC.com for the latest updates.
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