Before he became a Saturday Night Live cast member or a master impersonator, James Austin Johnson was a Trevecca undergraduate student looking to explore different facets of his creative identity and refine his purpose.
“There are a lot of positives to going to a smaller private school that doesn’t quite have your exact sport, major or program,” he said. “It draws a lot of resourcefulness out of you and forces you to think of ways to be creative.”
Born with a desire to perform, Johnson immersed himself in every form of performance available to him from a very young age. “I always wanted to do this. And I always thought I had what it took to do it,” he recalls. “It’s always been my passion. I did it at every level of school. I was always in plays, church plays and community theater. I just took every single opportunity.”
Of all the live performances he enjoyed, there was one lane of artistry that stood out to him most. “I just loved comedy, specifically live comedy,” he remembers. Inspired by the humor of iconic figures like Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams as well as timeless shows like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” he found himself gravitating toward the world of stand-up and improv. By the time he was in middle school, he was already honing his skills in improv classes at Meigs Magnet School.
Having a father who worked at the University and other family members who had gone before him, his college choice ended up being very simple. “Trevecca was just always going to be what I did,” he said. “I grew up rollerblading on campus.”
While Trevecca would become an important chapter in his journey, he didn’t quite have his future mapped out when he arrived on campus. “When I came to Trevecca, I had gotten really into poetry and literature. I wanted to be a serious writer and artist,” he said.
His love for performance had never left, and he found a way to merge his artistic desires, thanks in part to Trevecca’s theater director Jeff Frame.
“Dr. Frame invited me to come audition for a fall production. He was a helpful asset to getting me positioned for success. I honestly had great professors at Trevecca.”
As he continued performing, Johnson honed in on his love for stand-up comedy, performing at open mic nights and crafting his jokes. “I would literally type out jokes in the computer lab at Benson Hall. And I would take my printout and go to an open mic in Nashville and read them out loud.”
Later on, Johnson switched his major to communications, concentrating on film and pursuing a minor in writing. The focus on film led to an internship in Los Angeles, a city where it’s easy to see firsthand how the life of a full time comic could look. “I learned ‘oh, this is a thing that young people can go do. This isn't just a thing that Jeff Foxworthy does in arenas.’”
Once he had his sights set on a career in comedy, Johnson's commitment never wavered, even when the path seemed daunting after 10 years in L.A. “It’s a hard road,” he said. “You should only do it if you’re like, ‘This is what I’m going to do,’ and I’m very lucky that I knew I was going to do it.” Finally, at age 32, after years of honing his craft and taking every opportunity he could, Johnson landed a spot on one of the biggest comedy shows of all time: “Saturday Night Live.”
With his viral presidential impressions having already been noticed, his roles on the show didn’t feel like too much of a leap. “By the time I got SNL, it had just become my lifestyle. I’ve always found a lot of purpose in making people laugh.”
His success on the show, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, has been a culmination of years of hard work, passion for his craft and a drive that had been evident in his youth.
Today, as a successful comedian, actor and SNL cast member, Johnson encourages young people to take risks, explore their passions and remain kind and open along the way. “If you love something, it shouldn’t be that difficult to pursue it with your whole heart. And being kind and being open are the most important things, since you can’t do anything without community.”
He learned a lot of those lessons on his college campus. “I’ve become really grateful for my time at Trevecca. The path that led to me living the dream, Trevecca is a huge part of that.”