Ben Patrick Johnson - actor, author, activist

Ben Patrick Johnson grew up with a keen interest in broadcasting and writing. At the age of 18, after a childhood of obesity and depression, Johnson decided to make radical changes in his life, and started weight training and dieting. Over the next decade, as Johnson's career in radio and writing grew, so did his knowledge of nutrition. By the turn of the millennium, Johnson was the number one voice-over narrator in Hollywood, had secured a deal for what would lead to several bestselling books, and had become a marathon runner and expert in sports nutrition and supplementation. He put into practice what he learned, and the results were seen on magazine spreads and calendar covers. Further pursuit of fitness ideals led Johnson to launch The Fitness Kitchen, a Los Angeles based food preparation and delivery service, providing clients with balanced, organic meals for fitness enthusiasts, Hollywood celebrities, as well as clinical nutrition patients dealing with diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, and other degenerative disorders. In 2006, Johnson accepted an invitation to join Sir Elton John and Rep. Barney Frank as an official Ambassador to the Gay Games, extending his advocacy of health and fitness regardless of people's age, gender, race or sexual orientation.


What difficulties have you had to overcome to get to the top of your field as a voiceover actor?

Most of the difficulties I've encountered have come from within my own self; the business has been very kind to me. I struggle with feelings of worth (and lack thereof), with staying focused, with being patient and gracious in a variety of work settings, and trying to balance all the disparate elements of my life.

How do you balance your dual actor and author careers?

It's a challenge. I think it's useful that in my voice-over work I have windows of time during the day when I'm not occupied and I can turn my attentions to writing -- or at least to the business of writing: I find it difficult to switch my brain from one mode to another when I have fifteen or thirty minutes to spare. The best is when I can get up early in the morning and have a dedicated writing session for an hour or two. The real difficulty comes when it's time to promote the books I've written. This requires me to be on the road, and scheduling interviews, etc., all of which takes me away physically from being available for the voice-overs. One of the things that's helped me achieve the degree of success I have as a voice-over artist is being virtually always available for clients. When I'm on a plane to Chicago to make a bookstore appearance, I'm not so available.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I love it when I feel as though I've nailed a given voice-over read on the first take and the producer agrees with me. I enjoy coming to the end of a section of writing and feeling as though I've told a scene, or anecdote, or section as well as I possibly can.

Where do you turn for inspiration and to "refuel?"

As far as literary inspiration, there is more than I could ever get to in a lifetime on the shelves of the local bookstores and library. One of the great things about books is that they're permanent -- we can still look at Balzac just as readily as Baldwin, John Donne as readily as John Grisham. In my voice-overs, I just turn on the television or radio and experience the excellent work of my colleagues. And in bodybuilding, my "third" passion, there are magazines on any newsstand with pictures of splendid achievement, plus I've risen to a stature where I am fortunate enough to have access to some of the greats of the sport, both young and old.

Who are some of the most inspiring groups/people you're working with now?

As trite as it may sound, I've had really good luck with book editors. Each of the several I've been assigned, including my current editor at Alyson Books, is very, very smart and inspiring. For bodybuilding, I've just started a dialogue with IFBB bodybuilding pro Jamo Nezzar to help him put together a program to bring an increased level of fitness to all people regardless of age, sex, orientation, or location. He especially wants to work with kids to get them off to a good start and disabled people to help them achieve a high degree of fitness despite their impediments.

How did you find your purpose?

In a fortune cookie several years ago. It said, "Give up now while you're still ahead." But seriously, my purpose has sort of always been there -- to excel at what I endeavor, and do it in a way that leaves the world a better place for my having been here, on both a large and small scale. It's a lofty goal, but if we don't shoot high, what's the point?

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I'm proudest of coming out as gay at a young age and being steadfast in my refusal to subvert my identity under any circumstances, even when it might have been lucrative or professionally advantageous to do so.

Is there a particular book that has had a significant impact on your life and business?

There are many ... most significant in recent years would be The Four Agreements and the writings of (Buddhist nun) Pema Chodron.

Does spirituality play a role in your life?

Absolutely. I'm what I like to refer to as a "quiet Christian." Evangelism is the furthest thing from my mind. I feel that if one lives one's life according to a personal code of ethics, or in this case one dictated by a spiritual icon, others will see the goodness therein and evangelism will not be required. I find it's often those most ready to crow their religious or spiritual achievements whose very achievements are the most dubious and suspect. It's the quiet heroes that I seek to follow, and perhaps someday I will be regarded as one of those quiet heroes. Nothing would please me more.

What's your preferred method of getting your daily news?

Honestly? I watch two shows on Comedy Central -- The Daily Show and The Colbert Report -- and read headlines online. CThings makes a wonderful counterpoint and addition to these sources.

What dream for the world would you like to see achieved in our lifetime?

I'd like to see pharmaceutical companies and the medical establishment unleash their genius upon the task of ridding us of both degenerative and contagious diseases. I'd like to see color blindness prevail. I'd like to see an end to the need (in everyone's mind) for preferential hiring and academic admissions. I'd like to see people no longer tortured, ostracized, hung in public squares, or strapped to fences for who they love.

I read a statistic just this morning that there are now more women news anchors in America than men. This is great! One more field in which the white male (a group of which I am inextricably a part) corners the market. One of the fundamentals of free market capitalism and democracy is that, when properly exercised, the best man (or woman, or computer, or corporation) for a given job wins out. Again and again, despite cronyism, nepotism and generations-old prejudice, I see the expression of these democratic ideals coming to fruition. It's a great time to be alive.

(Interview by CThings Editor, Paul Horne)