About
"They picked the wrong girl to do this to, because I’m after every bad guy in this business today. They can’t hurt me anymore. I survived them. Now I’m going to be around hopefully long enough to make things better for stuntwomen."
In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Julie Ann Johnson talks about her early years, and her decision to get into stunt work. She recalls working on shows like Petticoat Junction, The Doris Day Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and Star Trek early in her career. She speaks of the logistics of doing stunts, and the specific challenges of being a stunt woman in the 1960s. Johnson chronicles her time on Charlie’s Angels, where she suffered a horrific injury and was subsequently blackballed from the industry. She details her court case against the producers of Charlie’s Angeles, and the work she has been doing to improve working and safety conditions for women and minorities who are stunt people. She concludes with career highlights and regrets, and how she would like to be remembered. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on February 26, 2019 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Julie Ann Johnson on how stunt performers pay scales are determined, and on working for Hal Needham
Julie Ann Johnson on being blackballed after her injury on Charlie's Angels, and on how being a female stunt person made it worse for her
Julie Ann Johnson on her reputation as a stunt person and what she was known to be able to do well
Julie Ann Johnson on the challenges of being a female stunt person in the 1960s, and on founding the Stuntwoman's Association
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work and doubling for The Doris Day Show and for Doris Day in features
Julie Ann Johnson on the course of action stunt women have if they feel discriminated against or harassed, and what she would like to see happen
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her early admiration for Esther Williams
On how she got into stunt work; on the training and physical requirements to be a stunt performer; on the role of a stunt person
On doing stunt work for Petticoat Junction early in her career; on doing stunt work and doubling for The Doris Day Show and for Doris Day in features; on working on The Beverly Hillbillies and The Man From U.N.C.L.E
On Abby Singer helping her get stunt work; on doing stunt work on Star Trek; on the wardrobe she wore as a stunt person, and on getting work as a stunt person
On the different types of stunt work she did; on the people on the set she works with most closely; on the challenges of being a female stunt person in the 1960s, and on founding the Stuntwoman's Association
On her reputation as a stunt person and what she was known to be able to do well; on how stunt performers' pay scales are determined; on doing stunt work on McMillan & Wife for Susan Saint James
On coordinating stunts for Women in Chains, starring Ida Lupino, and the feature "Pete N Tilly"; on changes that have taken place in the stunt performing industry; on forming the Society of Professional Stuntwomen in 1975
Chapter 2
On being injured on the set of Mannix, and on what happens when a stunt person is injured on set; on her style as a stunt performer and her favorite kinds of stunts; on the importance of a stunt person staying in good shape, and on the substance abuse problems in the industry
On doing stunt work on Charlie's Angels, mostly doubling for Kate Jackson, and being injured while doing a stunt on the show; on her efforts to let producer Aaron Spelling know about the unsafe conditions on the set of Charlie's Angels
On her work on Charlie's Angels; on being blackballed after her injury on Charlie's Angels, and on how being a female stunt person made it worse for her
On the changes she is trying to make in the stunt industry to improve safety, and also for minorities and women; on her court case, which was meant to get compensation for being injured on the set
On mentors in her career; on comparing how stunt women are treated in features and in television; on how budgets impact what a stunt person is able to do
On how the accident on the set of "The Twilight Zone" movie led to changes in the stunt industry; on the course of action stunt women have if they have bbeen discriminated against or harassed, and what she would like to see happen; on advice to an aspiring stunt woman
On how changes in technology have impacted the stunt industry; on career achievements and regrets; on how she would like to be remembered
Chapter 3
B-roll- explains and shows her proposal of a fair roster for working stunt people; hanging from a helicopter stunting for Doris Day; hanging over Doheny Drive for the Doris Day film "Caprice"; on the set of Star Trek; stunting for Jessica Walter on the set of "Play Misty for Me"; with Hal Needham stunting for "Nickelodeon"; hanging off a helicopter, doubling for Sandy Duncan in "The Cat from Outer Space"; on the set of Charlie's Angels; with Rosemary Harris on the set of "Spider-Man 2"; accepting her Diamond in the Raw Award; picture of her in her prime in the 1970s
Shows
Beverly Hillbillies, The
Julie Ann Johnson on working on The Beverly Hillbillies
Charlie's Angels
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on Charlie's Angels where she was injured doing a stunt
Julie Ann Johnson on her efforts to let producer Aaron Spelling know about the unsafe conditions on the set of Charlie's Angels
Julie Ann Johnson on being blackballed after her injury on Charlie's Angels and on how being a female stunt person made it worse for her
Doris Day Show, The
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work and doubling for The Doris Day Show and for Doris Day in features
Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and on taking "nondescript" parts
Mannix
Julie Ann Johnson on being injured on the set of Mannix and various other sets, and on what happens when a stunt person is injured on set
McMillan & Wife
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on McMillan & Wife for Susan Saint James
Petticoat Junction
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work for Petticoat Junction
Star Trek
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on Star Trek
Women in Chains
Julie Ann Johnson on coordinating stunts for Women in Chains, starring Ida Lupino, and the feature "Pete N Tilly"
Topics
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Julie Ann Johnson on mentors in her career
Historic Events and Social Change
Julie Ann Johnson on the challenges of being a female stunt person in the 1960s, and on founding the Stuntwoman's Association
Julie Ann Johnson on the changes she's trying to make in the stunt industry to improve safety, and also for minorities and women
Julie Ann Johnson on the then-current state of the stunt industry for stunt women and safety standards
Julie Ann Johnson on the course of action stunt women have if they feel discriminated against or harassed, and what she would like to see happen
Pivotal Career Moments
Julie Ann Johnson on mentors in her career
Representation on Television
Julie Ann Johnson on the challenges of being a female stunt person in the 1960s, and on founding the Stuntwoman's Association
Julie Ann Johnson on the changes she's trying to make in the stunt industry to improve safety, and also for minorities and women
Julie Ann Johnson on the then-current state of the stunt industry for stunt women and safety standards
Julie Ann Johnson on the course of action stunt women have if they feel discriminated against or harassed, and what she would like to see happen
Technological Innovation
Julie Ann Johnson on how changes in technology have impacted the stunt industry
Television Industry
Julie Ann Johnson on her court case, which was meant to get her compensation for being injured on the set
Underrepresented Voices
Julie Ann Johnson on the changes she's trying to make in the stunt industry to improve safety, and also for minorities and women
Women
Julie Ann Johnson on the challenges of being a female stunt person in the 1960s, and on founding the Stuntwoman's Association
Julie Ann Johnson on the changes she's trying to make in the stunt industry to improve safety, and also for minorities and women
Julie Ann Johnson on the then-current state of the stunt industry for stunt women and safety standards
Julie Ann Johnson on the course of action stunt women have if they feel discriminated against or harassed, and what she would like to see happen
Professions
Performers
Julie Ann Johnson on the training and physical requirements to be a stunt performer
Julie Ann Johnson on the role of a stunt person
Julie Ann Johnson on the wardrobe she wore as a stunt person
Julie Ann Johnson on the logistics of being a stunt person in terms of getting work
Julie Ann Johnson on the different types of stunt work she did
Julie Ann Johnson on the people on the set she works with most closely
Julie Ann Johnson on her reputation as a stunt person and what she was known to be able to do well
Julie Ann Johnson on how stunt performers pay scales are determined, and on working for Hal Needham
Julie Ann Johnson on changes that have taken place in the stunt performing industry
Julie Ann Johnson on forming the Society of Professional Stuntwomen in 1975
Julie Ann Johnson on her style as a stunt performer and her favorite kinds of stunts
Julie Ann Johnson on the importance of a stunt person staying in good shape, and on the substance abuse problems in the industry
Julie Ann Johnson on comparing how stunt women are treated in features and in television
Julie Ann Johnson on how budgets impact what a stunt person is able to do
Julie Ann Johnson on advice to an aspiring stunt woman
Stunt Performer/Stunt Supervisor/Stunt Coordinator
Julie Ann Johnson on the training and physical requirements to be a stunt performer
Julie Ann Johnson on the role of a stunt person
Julie Ann Johnson on the wardrobe she wore as a stunt person
Julie Ann Johnson on the logistics of being a stunt person in terms of getting work
Julie Ann Johnson on the different types of stunt work she did
Julie Ann Johnson on the people on the set she works with most closely
Julie Ann Johnson on her reputation as a stunt person and what she was known to be able to do well
Julie Ann Johnson on how stunt performers pay scales are determined, and on working for Hal Needham
Julie Ann Johnson on changes that have taken place in the stunt performing industry
Julie Ann Johnson on forming the Society of Professional Stuntwomen in 1975
Julie Ann Johnson on her style as a stunt performer and her favorite kinds of stunts
Julie Ann Johnson on the importance of a stunt person staying in good shape, and on the substance abuse problems in the industry
Julie Ann Johnson on comparing how stunt women are treated in features and in television
Julie Ann Johnson on how budgets impact what a stunt person is able to do
Julie Ann Johnson on advice to an aspiring stunt woman
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and on taking "nondescript" parts
Comedy Series
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work for Petticoat Junction
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work and doubling for The Doris Day Show and for Doris Day in features
Julie Ann Johnson on working on The Beverly Hillbillies
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on McMillan & Wife for Susan Saint James
Julie Ann Johnson on being injured on the set of Mannix, and on what happens when a stunt person is injured on set
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on Charlie's Angels
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Julie Ann Johnson on doing stunt work on Star Trek
People
Hal Needham
Julie Ann Johnson on how stunt performers' pay scales are determined, and on working for Hal Needham
Abby Singer
Julie Ann Johnson on Abby Singer helping her get stunt work
Aaron Spelling
Julie Ann Johnson on her efforts to let producer Aaron Spelling know about the unsafe conditions on the set of Charlie's Angels
Esther Williams
Julie Ann Johnson on her early admiration for Esther Williams