Born: August 9, 1983
Age: 40
Birthplace: Camarillo, California, U.S.

Ashley Suzanne Johnson (born August 9, 1983)[1] is an American actress, voice actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Chrissie Seaver in Growing Pains, Ellie in The Last of Us, Annie Warbucks in Annie: A Royal Adventure!, Alex Marshall in What Women Want, Terra in Teen Titans and its spin-off Teen Titans Go!, Gwen Tennyson in the Ben 10 franchise and Gretchen Priscilla Grundler in Disney's Recess. She currently stars in the NBC drama Blindspot as FBI forensic specialist Patterson, and is a recurring cast member of Geek and Sundry's show Critical Role.
In 2013 and 2014 she won BAFTA Awards for her performances as Ellie in The Last of Us and The Last of Us: Left Behind.
Johnson was born in Camarillo, California, the youngest child of Nancy Spruiell Johnson, an independent film producer, and Clifford Johnson, the captain of an exploration ship. Her father died in July 2000 from Hepatitis C and cancer.[2] She is of Norwegian,[3] Swedish, Danish, Irish, Scottish, and Native American descent. When she was nine days old, her father got a new job and the family moved to Franklin, Michigan. Johnson graduated from high school at 15.[citation needed]Johnson's career began at age six, when she played the role of Chrissy Seaver on the sitcom Growing Pains from 1990 to 1992. The character's age was accelerated from a toddler between seasons for plotting purposes. By the time she was 12, Johnson had been in the casts of eight TV series. She later reprised her role as Chrissy in The Growing Pains Movie and Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers. In the one season series Phenom (1993-94), she played the mischievous younger sister of a rising teenage tennis star. Johnson appeared in the 1994 sitcom All-American Girl, which also lasted for only one season. She played DJ's overbearing girlfriend Lisa in the 1995 Roseanne episode "The Blaming of the Shrew", and played Alex Marshall, the daughter of Mel Gibson's character, in the 2000 comedy What Women Want. In 2008, she became a regular on the drama Dirt as Sharlee Cates. In 2009, Johnson appeared in "Omega", the season one finale of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse.[citation needed]
In 2012, she appeared in The Avengers (also directed by Whedon) as a waitress who is saved by Captain America (Chris Evans). She was intended to appear in future Captain America films as his newest love interest (given that a brief scene in the film was implied), but that plan was shelved and instead, actress Emily VanCamp took over as Sharon Carter for the next two films. Although her role was minor, the Blu-ray edition of The Avengers contains some deleted scenes that expand her role in the movie and further her interactions with Captain America.[4][5]
As a voice actress, she played Sean on the cartoon movie The First Snow of Winter in the US version in 1998, Gretchen Grundler on the Walt Disney TV animated series Recess, Terra in the Teen Titans animated series during the show's second and fifth season, Jinmay on Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! and Gwen Tennyson on Ben 10: Alien Force and in future variations of the Ben 10 franchise. Four of her roles have love interests who are voiced by Greg Cipes (Chiro in Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, Kevin in Ben 10, Beast Boy in Teen Titans, and Michelangelo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).
She co-starred in the PlayStation exclusive The Last of Us as the character Ellie, which was released to critical acclaim and commercial success.[6] She subsequently won a video game BAFTA for Best Performer and a VGX Award for Best Voice Actress for her role in the game. On March 12, 2015, Johnson won another BAFTA for Best Performer for the same role in the game's downloadable content, The Last of Us: Left Behind.[7]
Johnson appears in several Geek & Sundry shows, including playing occult specialist Morgan on the web series Spooked on Hulu, playing Alhambra and Dead of Winter on the board gaming web series TableTop,[8][9] and playing Pike Trickfoot/Yasha in the Geek and Sundry series Critical Role.[10]
As of 2015, she plays FBI forensic specialist Patterson in the NBC drama series Blindspot.[11] In 2015, Ashley Johnson was the voice actress of a main character in Minecraft: Storymode by TellTale and Mojang, Petra the Warrior.
Johnson studied violin and piano at the International School of Music; she also plays guitar and cello. When not acting or studying music, Johnson co-runs the photography company Infinity Pictures with her friend, production assistant Mila Shah.[12]
Johnson's older brother Chris worked on the television show The District. Her older sister Haylie Johnson is best known for her role as Haylie on Kids Incorporated. Haylie is married to Jonny Lang.[13]
Johnson has been in a relationship since 2012 with Brian Wayne Foster, an American writer, poet and singer.[14][15]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | Lionheart | Nicole Gaultier | ||
1995 | Nine Months | Shannon Dwyer | ||
1998 | Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 | Josie Hemphill | ||
1999 | Marionette | |||
1999 | Anywhere but Here | Sarah | ||
2000 | The Indescribable Nth | Doris | Short film; voice role | |
2000 | What Women Want | Alex Marshall | ||
2001 | Recess: School's Out | Gretchen Grundler | Voice role | |
2001 | Rustin | Lee Wolford | ||
2003 | The Failures | Lilly Kyle | ||
2004 | Killer Diller | Angie | ||
2004 | King of the Corner | Elena Spivak | ||
2005 | Nearing Grace | Merna Ash | ||
2006 | The Pity Card | Gretel | Short film | |
2006 | Fast Food Nation | Amber | ||
2006 | Grad Night | Student | ||
2007 | The Brothers Solomon | Patricia | ||
2008 | Pie'n Burger | Holly | Short film | |
2008 | Otis | Riley Lawson | ||
2008 | Columbus Day | Alana | ||
2009 | Spread | Eva | ||
2009 | Punching the Clown | Tracy | ||
2010 | Alleged | Rose Williams | ||
2011 | The Help | Mary Beth Caldwell | ||
2012 | The Avengers | Waitress Beth | ||
2012 | Much Ado About Nothing | Margaret | ||
2015 | Paradox | Sophie | ||
2015 | When Marnie Was There | Additional voices[16] | Voice role English version |
|
2016 | Punching Henry | Danielle | ||
2018 | Weight | Liza | ||
2018 | Juvenilles | Ms. Taylor | ||
2019 | Limited Partners | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1990-1992 | Growing Pains | Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Seaver | 47 episodes | |
1993 | Men Don't Tell | Cindy | Movie | |
1993 | In the Shadows, Someone's Watching | Blind Girl | Movie | |
1993 | The Town Santa Forgot | Granddaughter (voice) | Movie | |
1993 | Timmy's Special Delivery: A Precious Moments Christmas | Additional Voices (voice) | ||
1993-1994 | Phenom | Mary Margaret Doolan | 22 episodes | |
1994 | All-American Girl | Casey Emmerson | 12 episodes | |
1995 | Roseanne | Lisa | Episode: "The Blaming of the Shrew" | |
1995 | Annie: A Royal Adventure! | Annie Warbucks | Movie | |
1995-96 | Maybe This Time | Gracie Wallace | 18 episodes | |
1995 | Mina and the Count | Mina (voice) | Episode: "Interlude with a Vampire" | |
1996-1998 | Jumanji | Peter Shepherd (voice) | 40 episodes | |
1997 | Moloney | Katherine 'Kate' Moloney | 3 episodes | |
1997 | Wings | Rebecca | Episode: "Ms. Write" | |
1997-2001 | Recess | Gretchen Grundler (voice) | 129 episodes | |
1998 | Kelly Kelly | Maureen Kelly | 7 episodes | |
1998 | ER | Dana Ellis | 2 episodes | |
1999 | Partners | Janie | Movie | |
2000 | The Growing Pains Movie | Chrissy Seaver | Movie | |
2001 | Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street | Gretchen Grundler (voice) | Video | |
2002 | Lloyd in Space | Violet (voice) | 5 episodes | |
2002 | Roswell | Eileen Burrows | 2 episodes | |
2002 | Ally McBeal | Serena Feldman | Episode: "Heart and Soul" | |
2002 | Providence | Daphne Wallace | 3 episodes | |
2002 | Touched by an Angel | Natalie | Episode: "Bring on the Rain" | |
2002 | The Guardian | Betsy Fortunato | Episode: "Sacrifice" | |
2003 | Kidz History: The Revolutionary War | Colonist | Video | |
2003 | Recess: All Growed Down | Gretchen (voice) | Video | |
2003 | Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade | Gretchen (voice) | Video | |
2003 | Married to the Kellys | Shari | Episode: "Lewis May Have a Girlfriend" | |
2004 | Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers | Chrissy Seaver | ||
2004 | Married to the Kellys | Shari | Episode: "Chris and Mary Fight" | |
2004-2006 | Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Jinmay (voice) | 12 episodes | |
2004-2006 | Teen Titans | Terra (voice) | 7 episodes | |
2004-2010 | King of the Hill | Emily / Jamie | 7 episodes | |
2005 | The X's | Kimla | Episode: "License to Slumber" | |
2006 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Gretchen Grundler (voice) | Episode: "Lax: Experiment #285" | |
2007 | Monk | Susie the Maid | Episode: "Mr. Monk Is at Your Service" | |
2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dreama Little | Episode: "Ending Happy" | |
2007 | Heartland | Rebecca Colton | Episode: "Mother & Child Reunion" | |
2008 | Dirt | Sharlee Cates | 4 episodes | |
2008 | The Middleman | Eleanor Draper | Episode: "The Ectoplasmic Panhellenic Investigation" | |
2008 | Raising the Bar | Elise Denton | Episode: "Hang Time" | |
2008 | The Mentalist | Clara Tennant | Episode: "Seeing Red" | |
2008-10 | Ben 10: Alien Force | Gwen Tennyson,
Carol Smith, Cicely, Girl, Mother, Mr. Smoothy Employee |
45 episodes | |
2009 | Dollhouse | Wendy, Caroline, Hayden Leeds | 2 episodes | |
2009 | Cold Case | Grace Stearns in 1966 | Episode: "The Crossing" | |
2010 | Funny or Die Presents... | Girlfriend | Episode: "1.1" | |
2010 | Lie to Me | Valerie | Episode: "Beat the Devil" | |
2010-2018 | Drunk History | Elizabeth Hamilton, Elizabeth Cherry, Sara Northrup | Episodes: "Drunk History Vol. 1: Featuring Michael Cera"; "Shit Shows"; "Dangerous Minds" | |
2010 | Christmas Cupid | Jenny | Movie | |
2010-2012 | Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | Gwen Tennyson,
Diamondhead (Gwen), Clockwork (Gwen), Humungousaur (Gwen), Upchuck (Gwen), Rath (Gwen), Sunny, Mrs. Rozum, Pierce's Girlfriend, Teen Girl, Fan |
52 episodes | |
2011 | In Plain Sight | Sarah Collins, Sarah Peterschwim | Episode: "Something A-mish" | |
2011-2013 | Pound Puppies | Toyoshiko, Gina, Amelia, Giblet (voice) | 4 episodes | |
2011-2012 | The Killing | Amber Ahmed | 7 episodes | |
2012 | Private Practice | Kelly | Episode: "The Time Has Come" | |
2012 | Drop Dead Diva | Veronica Kramer | Episode: "Road Trip" | |
2012-2014 | Ben 10: Omniverse | Gwen Tennyson,
Future Gwen, Gwen 10, XLR8 (Gwen), Wildvine (Gwen), Margie, Student 2, Woman |
21 episodes | |
2013-2016 | Teen Titans Go! | Terra (voice) | 4 episodes | |
2013 | Masters of Sex | Flora Banks | Episode: "Fallout" | |
2014 | Garfunkel & Oates | Jane | Episode: "Speechless" | |
2015 | Stalker | Stephanie | Episode: "My Hero" | |
2015 | Naruto Shippuden | Shiseru (voice) | Episodes: 290-295 ("Power Saga") English version |
[17] |
2015-2017 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Renet (voice) | 6 episodes | |
2015-present | Blindspot | Patterson | Series regular | |
2016; 2019 | Infinity Train | Tulip, Steward (voice) | [18] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Teen Titans | Terra | |
2008 | Ben 10: Alien Force | Gwen Tennyson | |
2009 | FusionFall | Gwen Tennyson | |
2009 | Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks | Gwen Tennyson | |
2010 | Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex | Gwen Tennyson | |
2010 | Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction | Gwen Tennyson | |
2011 | Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion | Gwen Tennyson | |
2013 | The Last of Us | Ellie | VGX Award for Best Voice Actress 2013 BAFTA Games Award for Best Performer 2014 BAFTA Games Award for Best Performer [19] |
2014 | Infamous First Light | Jenny | |
2015 | Tales from the Borderlands | Gortys | |
2015 | Skylanders: SuperChargers | Gadfly Glades Collector | [20] |
2015 | Marvel Heroes | Spider-Gwen | [21] |
2015 | Lego Dimensions | Terra (voice) | Uncredited |
2015-2017 | Minecraft: Story Mode | Petra | |
2016 | Lego Marvel's Avengers | Beth the Waitress | [22] |
2016 | The Witness | [23] | |
2018 | The Last of Us Part II | Ellie | |
2018 | Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire | Narrator / Pike Trickfoot / Ydwin (voice) | [24][25] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013-2015 | Tabletop | Herself | Season 1 Ep. 17, Season 3 Ep. 8 |
2014 | Spooked | Morgan | 4 episodes |
2015-present | Critical Role | Pike Trickfoot (campaign 1), Yasha (campaign 2) | RPG web series, cast member[26] |
2016 | Force Grey: Giant Hunters | Dagny Halvor | RPG web series, cast member[27] |
[ Source: Wikipedia ]