“Battlestar Galactica” and “Law & Order” Actor Harry Johnson Dead at 81

Credited as Chip Johnson through the 1980s, Harry Johnson had contract appearances in dozens of television films for four decades

Harry Johnson has died at 81.

The actor died Wednesday in Los Angeles, the cause a “long illness,” his wife Christiane confirmed to Deadline.

Johnson’s prolific career in Hollywood spanned four decades, with appearances in Dynasty, Quincey M.E., Days of Our Lives, M*A*S*H, Melrose Place, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more. For many of the appearances in his early career — through the 1980s — Johnson was credited as “Chip Johnson”.

The actor was best known for his role as First Warrior in the Battlestar Galactica film released in 1978. He later reprised the role for an episode of the television series of the same name. Johnson also played another role in the show — 3rd Pilot — for an additional episode.

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Johnson played dual roles in Law & Order, too. He appeared as both Lawrence Hodge and Brewer on the long-running crime drama between 1992 and 1993.

In the 2000s, Johnson stepped away from Hollywood after his last credited appearance in Heartland. Some of his other, late career projects included appearances on Cold Case, Judging Amy and voicing Primary Officer in the video game Need for Speed: Carbon, which was released in 2006.

Though Johnson was a contract actor for Universal Studios, and often appeared on screen, he was also successful as an ADR voice performer and audio professional for film and television.

Johnson’s last voice work was featured in the 2018 Netflix hit film Bird Box.

Some fans of Johnson may also recognize him from the now-iconic “Harry & Louise” TV and radio ads that ran in the 1990s as the Health Insurance Association of America tried to put more insurance control in the hands of Americans than then-President Bill Clinton pitched care guidelines.

Johnson also wrote five books under the pen name Harry Castle, according to Deadline.

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Along with Christiane, Johnson leaves behind two stepchildren.

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