By Bianca Sierra
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
David Roger Johansen[5] (January 9, 1950 – February 28, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor best known as lead singer of the seminal proto-punk band the New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter and for playing the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged (1988).
Johansen acted in several films during the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2000, had a brief role on the HBO drama series Oz. He appeared in the television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete in the episode “On Golden Pete”, in which he played a park ranger. He appeared in the Muppet Television segment of an episode of The Jim Henson Hour. Among his more prominent roles are that of the wisecracking Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged (1988), which starred Bill Murray as well as the part of “Looney” in the movie Let It Ride (1989), playing opposite Richard Dreyfuss. He starred opposite Hulk Hogan and Sherman Hemsley in Mr. Nanny (1993) and co-starred with John C. McGinley in the movie Car 54, Where Are You? (1994), based on the television series. He can be seen in the Jim White documentary film Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus in which he sings a version of Geeshie Wiley‘s “Last Kind Words” while in a motel room. He also had a supporting role with Mick Jagger and Emilio Estevez in the movie Freejack (1992). He also played Halston (a hired hitman) in the anthology film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), in the segment “The Cat from Hell“. He was also the guest music artist on the Miami Vice episode “The Dutch Oven” (1985), where he sang “King of Babylon”.[15] Johansen most recently portrayed the bartender in the Bill Murray Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas. Johansen voiced the villain Ding Dong Daddy in the original Teen Titans animated series in the season 5 episode 9 episode “Revved Up”. Johansen’s legs appeared in John Lennon and Yoko Ono‘s 1971 film Up Your Legs Forever. He also voiced the Beartaur character in the 2021 Centaurworld animated Netflix television series.
Johansen wed actress Cyrinda Foxe in 1977 but divorced within a year in 1978. Johansen was married to photographer Kate Simon from 1983 to 2011. Johansen wed artist Mara Hennessey in 2013.
Johansen was diagnosed with stage four cancer and a brain tumor in 2020, ending his musical career. He fell and broke his back in two places in November 2024 and required surgery. His step-daughter launched a fundraiser to help with his treatment on February 10, 2025.
David Johansen died from cancer at his Staten Island home on February 28, 2025, at the age of 75.
