From the time she was a child, Punkie Johnson knew she was destined for a career in entertainment. Born and raised in New Orleans, the 37-year-old grew up in a home that promoted laughter, even during the darkest of times.
“My whole family was goofy,” Johnson said during an interview with The New YorkHER podcast. “My mom would – I would get in trouble and my mom would crack jokes on me as I was getting punished.” Her mother, Mary W. Johnson would also turn on the works of Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor while cleaning the house on weekends, as opposed to playing music, like many other families did. These consistent influences of comedy, along with being an avid watcher of BET’s ComicView, moved her on a path of unimaginable success.
After graduating from Nicholls State University in Louisiana, followed by a brief stint back in her hometown, Punkie moved to Hollywood in order to start her journey in show business. She attended acting classes in Los Angeles; eventually landing a job at the world famous Comedy Store as a bartender. While waiting tables and observing the hundreds of comics grace the stage, she learned from many of the best in the industry, indirectly honing her craft in the process.
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“‘I can’t believe I’m standing in this building.’ Because I just stumbled there,” the actress said about her employment at The Store in a discussion with NBC News. “I ended up there. I didn’t plan it, you know?” She worked night in and night out for almost a year before she would get her chance to shine on stage. Upon becoming a regular at this historic establishment, Punkie also landed a few acting roles in shows such as A Black Lady Sketch Show, Crank Yankers, and Netflix’s Space Force.
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