Biography
Cranston Johnson, the youngest of three siblings, was born in Gastonia, NC. After graduating from Ashbrook Senior High School, he earned a football scholarship to Western Carolina University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management while achieving All Southern Conference honors during his collegiate football career. His athletic skills and football background led to his first film industry role in 2010 as a featured extra in The 5th Quarter, starring Andie MacDowell, Aidan Quinn, and Ryan Merriman.
During this period, Cranston developed an interest in acting and decided to pursue it professionally. He joined a local acting workshop and eventually secured representation. His on-camera skills flourished after he began method acting training in 2011 with Burgess Jenkins and the Actor's Group. With his versatility and enhanced abilities, he was cast in numerous independent films and television projects. His first SAG role came in the summer of 2012 when he portrayed Shawn Griffin in Jerry Rees’ film Susie's Hope, delivering a powerful and chilling performance as a man on trial for animal cruelty. Later that year, in December, Cranston was cast in Tyler Perry’s film The Single Moms Club, alongside Nia Long, Tyler Perry, Wendy McLendon-Covey, and Amy Smart.
Cranston has been steadily building an impressive resume with episodic television credits, including a recurring role on the critically acclaimed comedy Atlanta, starring Donald Glover. He also appeared in Secrets and Lies, Constantine, Game of Silence, Survivor's Remorse, and Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell within a two-year span. His film credits include For The Love of Ruth, A Way Back Home, and Term Life, featuring Vince Vaughn, Bill Paxton, and Hailee Steinfeld. In 2015, Cranston’s dedication to his craft was recognized when he won Best Actor in a Short Film at the Rahway International Film Festival for his role in the gripping A Letter To My Son. The short was selected for over 20 film festivals, including the prestigious Riverrun International Film Festival, one of the Southeast’s premier events. His breakthrough came in fall 2016 when he was cast as series regular Detective Marvin Hanson in the second season of SundanceTV’s darkly comic swamp noir Hap and Leonard, starring James Purefoy and Michael K. Williams.
Cranston continues to study method acting in Winston Salem, NC, crediting the class and instructor as vital to his growth both as an actor and as a person. His ability to portray a broad spectrum of emotions—funny, angry, loving, menacing, vulnerable, ruthless, or caring—demonstrates his versatility and commitment to his craft. He is a dedicated student of acting, poised to become a leading man in the film industry.
