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Daniel J. Johnson(I)

  • Music Department
  • Editor
  • Sound Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Born and schooled in the San Fernando Valley; aspired early on to a career in athletics while playing football at the high school and small college levels from 1970 to 1983. Beginning in Chatsworth pop warner leagues to Encino Crespi High, to Los Angeles Pierce and Los Angeles Valley Colleges and ending with a last-ditch tryout for USFL's Los Angeles Express in 1982, Dan began studying music during college years while simultaneously working for father Ken Johnson, (passed in 2003), a film editor and one of the first music editors ever to receive a screen credit in such a classification. Beginnning as an apprentice editor in mid-1970s, obtained associate's degree in music composition. Further trained through BMI-sponsored school for composers by accomplished composer Earle Hagen. Received first film credit at the age of 20 on TV series "Eight Is Enough"; (Earle Hagen, composer). Worked as music editor on first movie ever to use CGI graphics: "The Last Starfighter" 1984, on which he and father Ken received co-editor credits; (Craig Safan, composer). Notable film and composer highlights include the Disney/Touchstone acclaimed 6 hour miniseries "The Little House on the Prairie" in 2004, and the critically acclaimed docudrama,"Path to 9/11" in 2006. Was nominated for Emmy for Sound and Music with Emmy and Oscar-nominated composer, long-time family friend, John Cameron. The show won Emmy for Best Picture Editing. Also notable, supervised Annette O'Toole's acclaimed musical performance as "Tammy Wynette in "Stand By Your Man", (Earle Hagen, composer); also "Navy Seals", "Rocky V", "The Slugger's Wife", "Necessary Roughness" "Rookie Of The Year", "Spy Hard" and "The Adventures Of Huck Finn";"The Academy Awards",(Bill Conti, composer); "Clueless" with David Kitay, composer); "A Time For Dancing", (Laurence Rosenthal, composer); the original "Punisher" in 1989 (Dennis Dreith, composer); "The Color Purple", (Quincy Jones, composer);"Nashville", (Richard Baskin, composer); "Gran Torino", "Invictus", "Trouble With the Curve" (Lennie Niehaus, Kyle Eastwood, composers). Nominated for various Golden Reel and Emmy Awards; teamed on three Emmy-winning post production units and one Oscar-winning unit. Now owns and operates post production and music management company for motion pictures, Spirit Inspired Media of Burbank, California.
BornNovember 23, 1959
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BornNovember 23, 1959
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
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    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 nominations total

    Known for

    Lance Guest in The Last Starfighter (1984)
    The Last Starfighter
    6.7
    • Music Department(as Dan Johnson)
    • 1984
    Dolph Lundgren in The Punisher (1989)
    The Punisher
    5.7
    • Music Department(as Dan Johnson)
    • 1989
    The Watcher (2000)
    The Watcher
    5.3
    • Music Department
    • 2000
    Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino (2008)
    Gran Torino
    8.1
    • Music Department
    • 2008

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Music Department



    • 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (2021)
      1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
      7.6
      TV Series
      • music editor
      • 2021
    • Clint Eastwood in Trouble with the Curve (2012)
      Trouble with the Curve
      6.8
      • music editor
      • 2012
    • Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in Invictus (2009)
      Invictus
      7.3
      • music editor (uncredited)
      • 2009
    • Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino (2008)
      Gran Torino
      8.1
      • music editor
      • 2008
    • Angelina Jolie and Gattlin Griffith in Changeling (2008)
      Changeling
      7.7
      • music editor (uncredited)
      • 2008
    • Comanche Moon (2008)
      Comanche Moon
      7.1
      TV Mini Series
      • music editor
      • 2008
    • Mitch Albom's for One More Day (2007)
      Mitch Albom's for One More Day
      5.7
      TV Movie
      • music editor (uncredited)
      • 2007
    • Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa (2006)
      Rocky Balboa
      7.1
      • music editor (uncredited)
      • 2006
    • The Path to 9/11 (2006)
      The Path to 9/11
      6.5
      TV Mini Series
      • supervising music editor
      • 2006
    • Homie Spumoni (2006)
      Homie Spumoni
      4.6
      • co-music editor
      • 2006
    • Cameron Bancroft, Erin Cottrell, Danielle C. Ryan, and Kyle Chavarria in Little House on the Prairie (2005)
      Little House on the Prairie
      7.2
      TV Mini Series
      • music editor
      • 2005
    • Dust to Glory (2005)
      Dust to Glory
      7.3
      • supervising music editor (uncredited)
      • 2005
    • Willem Dafoe, Ray Liotta, and Michelle Rodriguez in Control (2004)
      Control
      6.2
      • co-music editor (uncredited)
      • 2004
    • Ben Stiller and Jack Black in Envy (2004)
      Envy
      4.8
      • co-music editor (uncredited)
      • 2004
    • Coast to Coast (2003)
      Coast to Coast
      6.3
      TV Movie
      • music editor (as Dan Johnson)
      • 2003

    Editor



    • Bill Cosby: Himself (1983)
      Bill Cosby: Himself
      8.1
      • co-editor
      • 1983
    • Sammy Stops the World (1979)
      Sammy Stops the World
      6.3
      • co-editor
      • 1979
    • Richard Pryor in Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
      Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
      8.0
      • co-editor (uncredited)
      • 1979

    Sound Department



    • Under the Volcano (1984)
      Under the Volcano
      6.8
      • assistant sound editor (as Dan Johnson)
      • 1984
    • Richard Pryor in Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
      Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
      8.0
      • Co-Editor
      • 1979

    Personal details

    • Alternative names
      • Dan Johnson
    • Height
      • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
    • Born
      • November 23, 1959
      • Northridge, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Spouse
      • Jane Marie JohnsonApril 29, 1995 - present

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Dan and his father, Ken Johnson worked on the last film ever scored by Nelson Riddle, "Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984)" in 1984.

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