Brad Johnson, Always and Melrose Place actor, dies at 62

Brad Johnson, best known for starring in Steven Spielberg's romantic drama Always and for his turn on the Fox series Melrose Place, died Feb. 18 in Fort Worth, Tex. He was 62. A representative for Johnson confirmed the news to EW.

No cause of death was reported.

Born in 1959 in Tucson, Ariz., Johnson began his career on the professional rodeo circuit in 1984, where he was discovered by a casting director looking for cowboys to star in a beer commercial. This led to his stint as the Marlboro Man and modeling gigs for Calvin Klein before he started acting. His first role was in a 1986 episode of CBS' soap opera Dallas.

In 1989, Johnson scored the role of Ted Baker in Always, starring opposite Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss in the Spielberg-directed drama, which was a remake of Victor Fleming's 1943 film A Guy Named Joe. His big break brought him numerous opportunities in film and television throughout the 1990s, including 1991's Flight of the Intruder (1991), the 1997 TNT miniseries Rough Riders, and three Left Behind films in which he played protagonist Rayford Steele.

In 1993, he landed a part as the title character in the miniseries Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times, a role he reprised in 1995's Lone Justice 2 and 1996's Lone Justice: Showdown at Plum Creek.

CBS via Getty Images Brad Johnson

In 1996, Johnson snagged a recurring role as pediatrician Dominick O'Malley in the soap opera Melrose Place and went on to play Maj. Matthew Quentin Shepherd on the syndicated adventure series Soldier of Fortune, Inc.

Outside acting, Johnson restored old Winchester Model 1886 rifles before turning to selling ranch real estate in North Texas. He is survived by his wife, Laurie, and their children Shane, Bellamy, Rachel, Eliana, Eden, Rebekah, Annabeth, and William.

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