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Tor Johnson
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==Career== [[File:PlanNine 10.jpg|thumbnail|right|Johnson in ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'' (1957)]] Johnson stood {{height|ft=6|in=3|abbr=no}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0426363/bio|title=Tor Johnson|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> and weighed {{convert|440|lb|kg}} at his heaviest. He had a full head of blond hair, but shaved it to maintain an imposing and villainous appearance in his wrestling and acting work. He began getting [[bit part]]s in films upon moving to [[California]], usually as the strongman or weightlifter, as early as 1934. In the same year, Johnson was one of over 50 wrestlers who took part in a two-month [[Los Angeles]] tournament for California's version of the world title. His film career ended in the early 1960s, after he appeared in a string of low-budget, poorly-rated films. However, he continued to make appearances on television and made a number of commercials.<ref>{{cite book |title=Character Actors in Horror and Science Fiction Films, 1930-1960 |url={{Google books|jqBllx5lyuwC|page=117|plainurl=yes}} |first=Lawrence |last=Raw |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |year=2012 |pages=117β119 |isbn=978-0786444748}}</ref> Tor Johnson used the ring name Super Swedish Angel to distinguish himself from Nils Phillip Olofsson who used the ring name Swedish Angel. The name was derived from wrestler [[Maurice Tillet]], known as The French Angel. During his career as an actor, Johnson befriended director [[Ed Wood]], who directed him in a number of films, including ''[[Bride of the Monster]]'' and ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]''; writing for [[Turner Classic Movies]], film critic Donald Liebenson described Johnson's performance in ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9]]'' as "gonzo."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liebenson |first1=Donald |title=Plan 9 from Outer Space Lands in TCM Classic Film Festival! |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86783/plan-9-from-outer-space#articles-reviews?articleId=021336 |website=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=Turner Classic Movies Inc. |access-date=2022-04-18}}</ref> Johnson was very friendly to work with; actress [[Valda Hansen]], who worked with Johnson in 1959's ''[[Night of the Ghouls]]'', described him as "like a big sugar bun."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://comicsbeat.com/gift-guide-drew-friedmans-new-tor-johnson-print/ |title=Gift Guide: Drew Friedman's new Tor Johnson print |first=Heidi |last=MacDonald |author-link=Heidi MacDonald |website=ComicsBeat |date=23 November 2011}}</ref> During this period, Johnson appeared as a guest contestant on the quiz show ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'', during which he showed the show's host, [[Groucho Marx]], his "scariest face." Marx ran off the stage in mock terror, then returned and pleaded: "Don't make that face again!"
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