Biography
The tall, handsome and versatile American actor, Maurice Johnson, was born in Augusta, Georgia to Eugene and Ruby Johnson (both nurses). Maurice received a football scholarship to Albany State University and graduated with a degree in Speech and Theatre. Maurice is a notable member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. initiated at the Chi Epsilon chapter at Albany State.
Maurice caught the acting bug after he stepped on the stage in his first stage play, Thomas Meloncon's "Diary of Black Men," directed by Dr. Wendy Coleman at Albany State's Billy C. Black Auditorium. Upon graduating from college, he performed in local and regional stage plays before landing a national SunTrust commercial without having an agent. He continued to hone his craft doing commercials and acting on the indie circuit before landing co-star and guest star roles on hit television shows. His first notable role was in 2012 on CBS's Hawaii Five-O playing the role of Bob Ledford opposite Sam Anderson, Scott Caan and Alex O'Laughlin. He later had roles on shows like CBS's "Good Girls and "The Inspectors", NBC's "Chicago Fire" and "Game of Silence," ABC's "Devious Maids, The Catch, and Nashville," OWN's Tyler Perry's "For Better or Worse," TV One's "Born Again Virgin", VH1's "Daytime Divas" and episodes on CW's "Vampire Diaries" to name a few.
Maurice was first seen on the silver screen in 'Joyful Noise' (2012) opposite Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. His next notable silver screen appearance was opposite Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall in the thriller "When the Bough Breaks" (2016). Later he appeared in the highly anticipated blockbuster "Billionaire Boys Club" (2018) alongside Hollywood heavyweights Emma Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton, Billie Lourd, Alicia Sanz, Judd Nelson, Jeremy Irvine, and Suki Waterhouse.
Maurice performed in lead roles in three internationally released films. "Titanic 666," (2022) a horror, mystery, and thriller where he plays the supporting role of Collins, the security goon opposite Keesha Sharp , Jamie Bamber and Joseph Gatt. "Farm to Fork to Love," (2021) a romance drama, where he played the leading role of an executive chef at one of the top restaurants in New York. The third one was "The Crickets Dance," (2020) an award-winning drama/crime/history film set in the deep south, where he portrayed the leading role as a Southern lawyer who sought keys to his past most of his life opposite Kristen Renton (Sons of Anarchy). All three films were released on digital and multiple on-demand platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Vudo, Verizon, Comcast, Dish, iTunes, Google Play, and Telus in the U.S., U.K., Italy, and Canada.
2022 was a busy year for Maurice, not only in production for leading roles but directing and producing as well. As the lead character in a film entitled "Jones Plantation," (2023) Maurice plays a brilliant sociopath, a true genius, who specializes in deception and mind control. He also made a cameo appearance in "The Skeleton's Compass," (2022) a children-friendly film that premiered on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Vudu and On Demand. Most recently to hit the silver screen, Maurice starred as Joe in "Yenni Thuniga/Think & Dare," (2022) a Bollywood critically acclaimed feature action film that premiered in thirteen countries and 42 U.S. cities and streamed on Tubi and Prime Video. He is also featured in a newly released movie, "The Anthology of Julius, the Nigerian Immigrant" streamed on Prime Video and Tubi. Maurice has projects in the development pipeline as an actor, producer, and director. Many of his past, current, and future projects are social-conscious focused and can influence change in one's thought process and society at large.
Some of his past awards include Culture and Diversity Film Festival, Judges Award (Winner) 2020 Best Ensemble for "The Crickets Dance"; New York International Film Awards - April Monthly Award (Winner) 2021 for Best Feature Film, "The Anthology of Julius, the Nigerian Immigrant"; North Europe International Film Festival (Fusion Film Festival) - Jury Prize (Nominee) 2021 for Best Lead Actor in "The Crickets Dance," and Sweden Film Awards - April Award (Nominee) 2021.
Maurice has leading roles in upcoming thrillers entitled The Killer Beat (2024), What Lies Under the Tree (2024). Mr. Johnson has an upcoming feature on ALLBLK opposite Tisha Campbell and love interest, Melissa De Sousa entitled Operation: Aunties (slated for 2025 release).
In 2025, Maurice will star as Dr. Ted Richardson in the new CBS's soap opera Beyond the Gates. Beyond the Gates is first new network daytime drama since Passions in 1999 and the first our-hour series in the category centered on an African American family.
