How did Harry Johnson die? 'Harry & Louise' ad star who starred in 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Law & Order' was 81

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Harry & Louise' ad star Harry Johnson has breathed his last at the age of 81. The actor died on Wednesday, January 3, in Los Angeles due to a 'long illness', his wife Christiane confirmed to Deadline. 

Johnson's illustrious Hollywood career 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'. 

What was Harry Johnson best known for?

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. 

Johnson played dual roles in 'Law & Order' as well. He appeared as both Lawrence Hodge and Brewer in the long-running crime drama between 1992 and 1993. In 1981, he starred with 'Batman' actor Adam West in the TV film 'Time Warp.'

Harry Johnson stepped away from Hollywood in the 2000s

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. 

Even 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. He released the book 'Fugitive Romance: The Fictional Memoir of a Hollywood Screenwriter' in 2013 and a short-story collection titled 'Miracles & Misfits.'

Christiane and Johnson were married for 15 years and he had two stepchildren, Oliver and Penelope. She told the outlet that her late husband loved to sail and “was renowned with colleagues for his wit and habit of bringing a brightness to sets, making work a pleasure.”