One good thing about the relative infancy of the web series world is that we haven’t experienced a great deal of personal loss yet. Sadly, today we received news that Chane’t Johnson, the star and creator of indie comedy series Nurses Who Kill passed away last Thursday of a heart attack.
Johnson, 34, was a regular at our Tubefilter Meetups here in Los Angeles, and was a delight to have met and watch her perform. She will be dearly missed. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 1:00PM at Winston Funeral Home in Los Angeles. The family asks that donations be made to the American Red Cross in her name.
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Friends, family and colleagues are mourning the loss of Chane’t Johnson who died Thursday, December 2, 2010 from a heart attack. She was 34. A rising creative force in the entertainment industry, Chane’t guest starred in over a dozen top-rated television shows over the past two years, met with Todd Solodnz this year, and her producing and directorial credits include three projects from this year alone.
Born August 21, 1976 in Dallas, Texas, Chane’t showed a passion for acting and speech as a member of the National Forensic League in high school in Duncanville. Her collegiate career began at Southern Methodist University where she earned a BFA in Theatre. She then went on to earn her Masters from University of California San Diego, where she was directed in Boesman and Lena by the play’s author Athol Fugard. Chane’t was also a member of the cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie at La Jolla Playhouse before the show moved on to Broadway to win a Tony Award.
Chane’t moved to Los Angeles in 2001 and began realizing her dream by co-starring on shows such as The Division, and The District. She quickly moved up the ranks to Guest Star on shows like The Guardian, Boomtown, Angel, Monk, Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Big Love, and The Middle. She enjoyed recurring roles on LAX, Day Break, Life, Brothers and Till Death. Chane’t also had strong connections in L.A.‘s theatre community, where she worked with both The MET Theatre and The Blank, the latter of which was where she was the Assistant Director on the award-winning play, The Wild Party. All-in-all, her credits are too numerous to mention.
Chane’t could also be called a savvy businessperson. She knew her craft and its accompanying business like the back of her hand. Chane’t provided coaching and industry boot-camp services to actors at all levels of their careers. Her clients went on to work on numerous television and film projects under her guidance.
Most recently, Chane’t had been focussing on producing and directing. Her first producing credit was the short film, First, which screened at the Newport Film Festival. Her first directorial project, which she also produced was The Pony Man. The film is currently in post-production. Her short film, Texas Toast, another directing and producing project, has been submitted to six top-rated film festivals.
Another project near to her heart was Good Virus, a documentary that she was producing that explores the nature of kindness, how good deeds and acts of kindness can spread like an infection. Chane’t often joked that she was “infected” by kindness. She reveled in living life to the fullest, having fun with friends and making the most of every moment.
Perhaps for more than her work, Chane’t will be remembered, by those who knew her best, as the caring, generous, supportive and creative anchor that she was. She hoped and strived to be an inspiration and guiding source of light for artists in the theatre, film and TV communities. Her friends will fondly remember her encouragement and straight-talk that would help them reach their full potential. As Chane’t would say, “you just need to try.” The success of her friends and colleagues in their artistic endeavors brought her immense joy.
Chane’t had the ability to win over the hearts and minds of almost everyone with whom she came into contact. She was a hero to her friends, and proof of this can be found on her Facebook page where outpourings of love and thanks have been posting since yesterday. Chane’t is survived by her mother, stepfather and brother, all of whom reside in Texas, and about a billion friends.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 1:00PM at Winston Funeral Home, 9501 S. Vermont Avenue. Donations can be made to the American Red Cross. There will also be services in Dallas on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at Warren United Methodist Church.
