
Anthony Johnson
Born
January 31, 1966
Died
September 5, 2021 (55 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Compton, California, USA
Anthony Johnson (February 1, 1966 – September 6, 2021), sometimes credited as A. J. Johnson, was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as "Ezal” in the 1995 comedy film Friday.
Born in Compton, California, his father Eddie Smith was a stuntman and a co-founder of the Black Stuntmen's Association. Johnson had credited his father for helping him enter the film industry, by getting him to work in film productions. He had also credited the comedian Robin Harris for helping him earlier on in his career as a stand-up comedian and giving him another chance even when he was jeered for his bad performance.
Johnson began acting in his early twenties. In 1990, he landed a starring role as E.Z.E. in House Party, after which he started doing stand-up in bars in Los Angeles. He later appeared in Lethal Weapon 3 as a drug dealer and in Menace II Society. His biggest role was in the 1995 comedy Friday, as Ezal, a crackhead and thief. He also appeared in Panther, The Players Club, B*A*P*S, I Got the Hook-Up, Def Jam's How to Be a Player and Repos, and in rap videos: in Dr. Dre's "Dre Day" (1992), he played Sleazy-E, a parody of Eazy-E, and he appeared again as Sleazy-E in the video for Eazy-E's "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (1993), this time being assaulted.

Boosters LA
Kenny
2022

I Got the Hook Up 2
Blue
2019

Hey, Mr. Postman!
Cousin Tino
2018

5K1
Wash Manager
2018

Candy
Lollipop
2017

Recognize
Mouse
2012

Master P's Hood Stars of Comedy
Self
2006

Repos
Tick Tack
2006

Hittin' It!
Cousin E (as A.J. Johnson)
2004

Roscoe's House of Chicken n Waffles
Roscoe
2004
Sweet Oranges
Himself
2004

Sweet Hideaway
Coach
2003

On the Edge
Hank Conrad
2002

O
Dell
2001

Baller Blockin'
Fast Eddie
2000

Hot Boyz
Pee Wee
2000

Foolish
Himself
1999

I Got the Hook-Up
Blue
1998

Woo
Doorman
1998

The Players Club
L'il Man
1998

How to Be a Player
Spootie
1997

B.A.P.S
James
1997

The Jamie Foxx Show
Lil Loc Dawg · (1 episode)
1996

The Great White Hype
Sultan’s Valet
1996

Panther
Sabu
1995

Friday
Ezal
1995

House Party 3
Butcher
1994

Menace II Society
Tony
1993

Lethal Weapon 3
Drug Dealer
1992

House Party
E.Z.E.
1990