WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO: Michelle Johnson

Watching EBERT AND ROEPER this week, Richard Roeper and Michael Phillips were reviewing FLAWLESS, starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore. Phillips stated that it was the first time the two starred together since 1984’s BLAME IT ON RIO.

When it was Roeper's turn to speak, he stated “I’m just wondering whatever happened to Michelle Johnson”, the lead in BLAME IT ON RIO.

I had Michelle on my list of people to cover in this category. I guess now is the time, thanks to Mr. Roeper.

Michelle Johnson began as a model before her first role in BLAME IT ON RIO.


In this film, she played a teenager who begins to have an affair with her father’s best friend (Michael Caine) while on vacation in Rio.

Looking back, I don’t know which is harder to believe. The fact that a film with this subject matter was released, that it starred Michael Caine, that it was written by Larry Gelbart (MASH), or that it was directed by Stanley Donan (SINGIN IN THE RAIN).

Whatever the fact, it was popular, at least on video. Mainly due to Michelle. People often forget that Demi Moore was in this. Most probably didn’t even notice her with Michelle in the cast.

She followed up this role, which would be her biggest, with a lot of TV work. In HOTEL, DALLAS, several episodes of THE LOVE BOAT, MOONLIGHTING, and TALES FROM THE CRYPT.

There were smaller roles in films like GUNG HO, WAXWORK (with Deborah Foreman who is profiled here), FAR AND AWAY, DEATH BECOMES HER, and DR GIGGLES.


She continued to act throughout the 90’s, in mostly direct to video or TV projects.

So, what ever happened to her?

In 1999, she married Arizona Diamonbacks third baseman Matt Williams. This seems to coincide with her ending her acting career. They were divorced in 2002.

This marriage became part of the news in March of 2008.

During the divorce, Williams was recorded on a wiretap being questioned by Hollywood Private Investigator Anthony Pellicano about if he wanted him to put a wiretap on Michelle’s phone. Williams was the first person called on the government’s side of the case, and was questioned about it. Williams declined the wiretap.

After the marriage was over, it looks like Michelle went back to acting.

In 2004, she was third billed in MICKEY, the baseball film from John Grisham.

Since she had that most recent acting credit, it looks like she may be trying to restart her career. While Demi Moore has gone on to much better things since BLAME IT ON RIO, it still stands as pretty much the high point of Michelle's career.