Tom Johnson Obituary

Tom Johnson, a comedic genius and recipient of two Emmy Awards for his outstanding writing, passed away at the age of 55 on January 14 at his Los Angeles residence. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.

Throughout his illustrious career, Johnson collaborated with an array of comedic talents, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. His partnerships included luminaries such as Joan Rivers, Greg Giraldo, Jon Stewart, Marc Maron, Arsenio Hall, George Lopez, Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart, Nikki Glaser, and Anthony Jeselnik.

In 1996, Johnson joined the inaugural team of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” with host Craig Kilborn and continued his role when Jon Stewart assumed the helm three years later.

Johnson’s impact on “The Daily Show” was immense, as he contributed to over 1,200 episodes and co-authored the New York Times bestseller, “America: The Book.” Garnering two Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards for his exceptional work on the show, Johnson is particularly remembered for his on-camera portrayal as the elusive hacker “Lord Viper Scorpion.” In this role, he infamously dismantled Stewart’s online reputation while provocatively challenging the host to “feel his sting.”

From 2007 to 2009, Johnson served as the head writer for “Talk Show with Spike Feresten,” the Fox network’s longest-running late-night show. Subsequently, he continued his impactful journey as a head writer on “Lopez Tonight” and co-created “The Jeselnik Offensive” with Anthony Jeselnik, holding key positions as an executive producer and head writer.

Johnson’s influence extended to various prestigious events, including the Grammy Awards, the Comedy Central Celebrity Roasts, the MTV Movie Awards, and the Inside the NBA All-Star Roast.

He is survived by his wife, Rozie Bacchi, sisters Pamela Dawn Foels and Cindy Johnson Doerr, brothers-in-law Stephen Foels and Steve Doerr, nieces Jennifer Lynne Sims, Amanda Jean Strathman, Brooke Alexandra Beck, and their spouses, as well as great-nieces Cameron Hazel Sims and Zoey Violet Strathman. Johnson also leaves behind his beloved cats, Billie, Sal, and Mama.