Chas. Floyd Johnson (born Charles Floyd Johnson) is an African-American television producer, actor and activist, known for The Rockford Files (1975–1980),[1]Magnum, P.I. (1982–1988), and Red Tails (2012).[2] A three-time Emmy Award winner (and seven-time nominee), Johnson currently serves as Executive Producer of the CBS Television Studios' television series, NCIS (2003–2019),[3] following his tenure as an executive producer of the long-running CBS television series, JAG (1997–2005).[1]
A native of Camden, New Jersey, Johnson spent most of his childhood in Middletown, Delaware. His mother, Bertha Ellen Seagers, was a school principal and teacher, and his father, Orange Maull Johnson, was a realtor. In 1956, he entered The Stony Brook School as the second African American student, graduating in 1958. Johnson received both his Bachelor of Arts and his Juris Doctor Degrees from Howard University.[4][5]
The Vietnam draft brought Johnson to the United States Army, stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Because of his law degree, Johnson was assigned to the Courts and Boards Defense Counsel. Once his military service was completed, Johnson relocated to Washington, D.C., and joined the U.S. Copyright Office. During this period as a copyright lawyer, Johnson took various film and acting classes in his free time. He also got acting roles in local theatre and in various film/television projects.[citation needed]
Deciding to focus on a career in entertainment, Johnson left the copyright office and moved to Los Angeles in 1971.[5][6] Once in Los Angeles, Johnson immersed himself in the Los Angeles entertainment scene. Johnson took more acting and film/television production classes.[citation needed]
He got a position in the mail room at Universal Studios. After just two days, Johnson applied for a newly opened position and became a Production Coordinator.[4] While in this role for a variety of television shows, Johnson caught the attention of Stephen J. Cannell and Meta Rosenberg. They were the producers of The Rockford Files. This led to the big break that would kick-off Johnson's professional producer career: he became the show's second associate producer in 1974.[6]
Johnson is also a co-author (along with George H. Hill and Lorraine Raglin) of the book, Black Women in Television: An Illustrated History and Bibliography, published in 1990.[9]
Outstanding Drama Series – Winner – The Rockford Files – 1978
Outstanding Drama Series – Nominee – The Rockford Files – 1979
Outstanding Drama Series – Nominee – Magnum, P.I. – 1983
Outstanding Drama Series – Nominee – Magnum, P.I. – 1984
Johnson produced and performed in the 1982 KCET Public Television Special, Voices of Our People ... in Celebration of Black Poetry, where he received an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Performer in an Entertainment Special” and another Emmy Award for “Outstanding Entertainment Special.”[4]
