Who is Rafer Johnson?
Rafer Johnson, an American decathlete, rose to prominence after earning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics and a silver medal in 1956. He afterward went on to work as an actor.
Rafer Johnson: Bio, Age, Ethnicity, Siblings, Education
Rafer Johnson was born on August 18, 1934, in Hillsboro, Texas, USA, as Rafer Lewis Johnson. Jimmy Johnson, his brother, is a football player who has been inducted into the “Pro Football Hall of Fame.” Lewis Johnson (Father) and Alma Gibson Johnson (Mother) are Rafter’s parents. When Johnson was nine years old, he and his family moved to Kingsburg, California.
Rafer is a graduate of Kingsburg High School, where he was a member of the football, basketball, and baseball teams. His coach, Murl Dodson, took him to see Bob Mathias compete in the 1952 U.S. Olympic decathlon trials when he was 16 years old. Furthermore, Johnson said to his coach,
“Most of them men I could have beaten.”
He and his coach returned months later to see Mathias’ triumph parade. Rafer won the high school invitational decathlon after a few weeks. In 1953 and 1954, he also won the California state high school decathlon meets.
Facts of Rafer Johnson |
|
| Full Name: | Rafer Johnson |
|---|---|
| Birth Date: | August 18, 1934 |
| Age: | 87 years |
| Death Date: | December 2, 2020 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Actor, Decathlete |
| Country: | United States |
| Horoscope: | Leo |
| Height: | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91m) |
| Wife | Elizabeth Thorsen |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Birth Place | Hillsboro, Texas the United States |
| Status | Married |
| Nationality | Americian |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Education | Kingsburg High School |
| Father | Lewis Johnson |
| Mother | Alma Gibson Johnson |
| Siblings | Jimmi Johnson |
| Kids | Jennifer Johnson Jordan, Joshua Johnson |
What is Rafer Johnson’s Net worth?
Johnson must have amassed a substantial fortune over his career. As of 2022, he was predicted to have a net worth of $2 million at the time of his death. As a result, Rafer must have led an opulent and opulent lifestyle.
He amassed a fortune through acting in a variety of films and participating in a variety of sports. Furthermore, Johnson’s film “License to Kill” grossed $156.1 million in theaters.
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What is the Name of Rafer Johnson’s Wife?
Johnson kept his personal life a well-guarded secret. He’s never let his romantic life get in the way of his career. Rafer married Elizabeth Thorsen, also known as Besty, in 1971. They had two kids and four grandchildren together.
Jennifer Johnson Jordan is his daughter’s name, and Joshua Johnson is his son’s name. Jennifer competed in beach volleyball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Joshua participated in the Art of the Olympians program, following in his father’s footsteps. Rafer’s happy married life with his wife came to an end in the year 2020 when he died.
The cause of Rafer Johnson’s Death
He died in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 86. Stroke was the cause of death for Rafer Johnson. He breathed his final breath on December 2, 2020.
Rafer Johnson’s Height and Weight
Rafer was blessed with a colossal statue of 6 feet 3 inches (1.90 meters). In addition, he weighed 91 kilograms (201 lbs). In addition, he possessed black hair and a set of black eyes.
The Career of Rafer Johnson
- Rafer began his professional career as a sportsman. He was a UCLA basketball player before going on to win the Pan American decathlon in 1995.
- Rafer has two silver medals and one gold medal from the Olympics.
- In 1968, he co-founded and served on the board of directors of “Special Olympics International.”
- Johnson also co-founded the “California Special Olympics” from 1983 to 1992.
- He was also a member of John F. Kennedy’s “Peace Corps” during that time.
- In 1984, Rafter was chosen as the torchbearer for the Los Angeles Olympics.
- In 1994, he volunteered at the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, and in 2009, he volunteered at the California Hall of Fame.
- Rafer was also honored with the UCLA Medal in 2016. He also decides to pursue a career as an actor. Johnson made his acting debut in the 1960 film “The Sins of Rachel Cade,” in which he played Kosongo.
- In 1961, he starred as Davis in the film “Wild In The Country.” Rafer featured as John Gammel in the film “Pirates of Tortuga” the following year. Later in his career, he appeared in films such as “License to Kill,” “None But the Brave,” “Think Big,” “The Braves,” “Tarzan and the Jungle Boy,” “Soul Solider,” “The Last Grenade,” “A Global Affair,” “The Loneliest Runner,” “The Grand Olympics,” “Spartacus,” and many others.
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