Jay Johnson (born December 30, 1948) is an American business executive and former model. In 1968, Johnson arrived in New York from California with his twin brother Jed Johnson and they were soon absorbed into artist Andy Warhol's social circle. As a Warhol superstar, Johnson had a successful modeling career and supported projects at The Factory. Johnson became president of Jed Johnson Associates Inc. following his brother's death in 1996, and he created Jed Johnson Home in 2006.
Johnson and his brother Jed left Sacramento, California, in early 1968 with the intention of traveling to Montreal, Canada. However, the conductors at Buffalo, New York threw them off the train because they believed they were draft dodgers, so they took a bus to New York City instead.[4][5][6] They found an apartment in the East Village, Manhattan through a heroin addict, got robbed, and lost all their money.[7] When they went to collect money their mother had sent them through Western Union, they were offered a job as messengers.[6] Soon after, Jed delivered a telegram to artist Andy Warhol's Factory and was offered a job on the spot as a janitor by director Paul Morrissey.[5] Morrissey had promised them parts in the film Lonesome Cowboys (1968), but those plans fell through.[5] Warhol helped the brothers move into an apartment in a safer neighborhood and they were quickly assimilated into his entourage.[6] Jed would become Warhol's live-in boyfriend for 12 years, edited films produced by Warhol and Morrissey, and eventually directed the film Bad (1977).[8]
Johnson dated actress Jane Forth, whom he introduced to Warhol and she became a Warhol superstar.[9] Johnson recalled that when he and Jed first arrived in New York City they "had not yet recognized that they were gay."[5] The Factory photographer Billy Name helped them come to terms with their sexuality.[2] While reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots to Surface magazine in 2019, Johnson stated that Stonewall was the first gay bar that he went to, and while working at a nightclub called Arthur's managed by entrepreneur Mickey Deans, Deans tried to rape him.[4] Deans married actress Judy Garland a few months later and Johnson believes there is a correlation between the riots and Garland's death: "He was an awful person and provided Judy with barbiturates and alcohol until she died, which was only a few days before the Stonewall riots. So when the police raided the Stonewall, people were grieving Judy's death—and the raid was the straw that broke the camel’s back … By the time of the riots, I was an out homosexual and enjoying the fruits of the city," Johnson said.[4]
Johnson pursued professional modeling while assisting with projects at the Factory. Johnson posed for renowned photographers such as Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, Jack Mitchell, and Francesco Scavullo.[10][11][12] The article "Factory Brothers" in the December 1970 edition of After Dark included a profile on Johnson and his brother Jed, as well as Warhol superstar Joe Dallesandro and his brother.[13]
While modeling Paris, Johnson lived in a hotel with Corey Tippin, Patti D'Arbanville, and Donna Jordan.[19] They all acted in the film L'Amour (1972), which was shot in Paris in the fall of 1970.[18][5]
Johnson began a relationship with Tom Cashin, a 19-year-old model whom he met in Paris in 1974.[22] When Johnson returned to New York, "The Return of Jay" was featured in the January 1975 edition of Interview magazine.[23] He was signed to Zoli modeling agency.[23]
Johnson was feistier than his soft-spoken twin and considered the "bad boy" of the duo.[16] He struggled with drinking and drug addiction.[7] By 1977, his brother Jed had begun a decorating business. After Johnson went to rehab he worked as a bookkeeper for his brother's company.[7]
Later career
Johnson was a pupil of Michio Kushi, a macrobiotic instructor.[24] Johnson and his brother Jed were featured in the June 1986 issue of Vanity Fair.[24] Together, they intended to open a macrobiotic restaurant.[24]
In 1996, Johnson's brother Jed was killed as a passenger aboard TWA Flight 800 when the plane exploded off the coast of Long Island, New York.[25] Johnson took over Jed's decorating business Jed Johnson & Associates. In 1997, Johnson nominated Jed's protégé Arthur Dunnam as design director.[26] The company's name was changed to Jed Johnson Associates and later to Arthur Dunnam for Jed Johnson Studio.[27]
In 2006, Johnson created Jed Johnson Home and continues to produce fabrics and furniture for the collection.[26] His longtime partner Tom Cashin is the co-director.[28] They reside in New York City and Brookhaven Hamlet, New York.[22]
