1. David Roger Johansen was an American singer, songwriter, and actor best known as lead singer of the seminal proto-punk band the New York Dolls.
30 Facts About David Johansen
1. 2.
David Johansen is known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter and for playing the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged.
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David Johansen's mother was Irish American and his father was Norwegian American.
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David Johansen attended St Peter's Boys High School, but was expelled in 1964.
5.
David Johansen finished his high school education at Port Richmond High School.
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David Johansen worked with Charles Ludlam at Ludlam's Ridiculous Theater Company, where Johansen did sound and lights.
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David Johansen's self-titled album peaked at number 91 in Australia in August 1978.
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In 1982 David Johansen was the opening act for the Who at several US East Coast concerts, including Shea Stadium in New York City and Capital Centre near Washington, DC.
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David Johansen appeared as part of the house band on the television program Saturday Night Live.
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David Johansen went on to issue Buster's Happy Hour, an album of songs thematically linked by their subject matter: alcohol.
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David Johansen acted in several films during the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2000, had a brief role on the HBO drama series Oz.
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David Johansen appeared in the Muppet Television segment of an episode of The Jim Henson Hour.
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David Johansen can be seen in the Jim White documentary film Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus in which he sings a version of Geeshie Wiley's "Last Kind Words" while in a motel room.
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David Johansen had a supporting role with Mick Jagger and Emilio Estevez in the movie Freejack.
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David Johansen played Halston in the anthology film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, in the segment "The Cat from Hell".
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David Johansen was the guest music artist on the Miami Vice episode "The Dutch Oven", where he sang "King of Babylon".
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David Johansen voiced the villain Ding Dong Daddy in the original Teen Titans animated series in the season 5 episode 9 episode "Revved Up".
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David Johansen's legs appeared in John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1971 film Up Your Legs Forever.
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David Johansen voiced the Beartaur character in the 2021 Centaurworld animated Netflix television series.
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David Johansen then turned to blues with his group, the Harry Smiths.
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In 2004, David Johansen reunited with Sylvain Sylvain and Arthur Kane of the New York Dolls.
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In October 2007, David Johansen participated in "The Staten Island Composers Project", featuring work by three musicians who call the island home: David Johansen; Vernon Reid, founder of the '80s rock-metal pioneers Living Colour, and Galt MacDermot, best known as the composer of the musical Hair.
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An artist noted for his musical unpredictability and versatility, David Johansen was a consistent blues enthusiast since the earliest days of the Dolls, with covers of songs by Bo Diddley and Sonny Boy Williamson among their earliest numbers.
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In September 2020, David Johansen released a cover of "Sinking Ship" by Gypsy.
25.
David Johansen wed actress Cyrinda Foxe in 1977 but divorced within a year in 1978.
26.
David Johansen was married to photographer Kate Simon from 1983 to 2011.
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David Johansen was diagnosed with stage four cancer and a brain tumor in 2020, ending his musical career.
28.
David Johansen fell and broke his back in two places in November 2024 and required surgery.
29.
David Johansen's step-daughter launched a fundraiser to help with his treatment on February 10,2025.
30.
David Johansen died from cancer at his Staten Island home on February 28,2025, at the age of 75.