Michael Johnston (actor)
Michael Johnston is an American actor known for bringing life to characters across various mediums, from the popular series Teen Wolf to acclaimed video games and indie films. His journey began with a childhood passion for voice-acting, quickly propelling him into the dynamic world of Hollywood. Let's explore how this talent, honed from an early age, found its footing in both on-screen and behind-the-mic roles. Michael Johnston began his acting journey as a child, setting up a home recording studio to practice voice-overs. He successfully transitioned from a prominent role in a popular teen TV series to a versatile voice actor for major video game franchises. Johnston's career showcases a remarkable blend of on-screen dramatic and comedic performances with extensive, diverse voice work.
AI Summary
Michael Johnston is an American actor known for bringing life to characters across various mediums, from the popular series Teen Wolf to acclaimed video games and indie films. His journey began with a childhood passion for voice-acting, quickly propelling him into the dynamic world of Hollywood. Let's explore how this talent, honed from an early age, found its footing in both on-screen and behind-the-mic roles.
- Michael Johnston began his acting journey as a child, setting up a home recording studio to practice voice-overs.
- He successfully transitioned from a prominent role in a popular teen TV series to a versatile voice actor for major video game franchises.
- Johnston's career showcases a remarkable blend of on-screen dramatic and comedic performances with extensive, diverse voice work.
A Voice From the Start
Born on February 22, 1996, Michael Johnston's journey into acting began remarkably early. Growing up in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, he discovered a passion for voice-overs that would shape his future career.
At just 12 years old, Michael took initiative that few his age would consider. He set up a recording studio right in his own bedroom and began auditioning for commercials and animated projects — a true prodigy in the making.
After graduating early from R-S Central High School, Johnston's ambition led him to Chicago. There, he honed his craft, studying acting at the renowned improv comedy theater, The Second City, before making the pivotal move to Los Angeles just six months later.
On-Screen Presence
Once in Los Angeles, it wasn't long before Michael started appearing on television. He landed a role in the popular series Awkward, and soon after, secured a significant recurring character on MTV's hit show, Teen Wolf.
On Teen Wolf, Johnston played Corey Bryant, a character integral to the final two seasons of the series. Appearing in 25 episodes, this role brought him significant recognition and allowed him to showcase his acting chops to a wide audience.
Independent Spirit
Beyond mainstream television, Michael also embraced the world of independent film. He took on the lead role in the comedy Slash, where he portrayed Neil, a 15-year-old high school student who secretly writes provocative 'slash fiction'.
Demonstrating his versatility, Johnston also ventured into the indie horror genre. His appearance in the film Bornless Ones further solidified his ability to tackle diverse roles, shifting from comedic lead to a role in a more chilling narrative.
The Power of Voice
Despite his on-screen success, Michael never abandoned his first love: voice acting. He has lent his distinctive voice to numerous video games, including the role of Reed in Dust: An Elysian Tail and the iconic character Mikleo in the Tales of Zestiria series.
Fans of the beloved Kingdom Hearts franchise will recognize his voice as Ephemer, a key character in Kingdom Hearts III. His work in such major titles underscores his prowess and demand in the gaming world.
Animated Adventures
His voice talents extend into animated television as well. Michael has voiced Atsushi Minegishi in the English dub of Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea and took on the titular role in the action-adventure series Zak Storm.
Playing the main character, Zak Storm, was a significant achievement, allowing him to be the central vocal presence for a globally broadcast animated series. It's a testament to his clear, engaging delivery and ability to inhabit a character completely with his voice.
Michael Johnston continues to be a sought-after talent across all mediums, with recent and upcoming projects like the film Endangered Species and voice work in My Oni Girl. His commitment to both on-camera and voice-over roles keeps his career vibrant and dynamic.
From a bedroom recording studio to major Hollywood productions, Michael Johnston's career is a fascinating example of talent meeting opportunity and dedication. He truly embodies the modern actor — equally comfortable and compelling, whether you see his face or only hear his voice.
Article
Michael Johnston (actor)
Michael Johnston (born February 22, 1996) is an American actor. He appeared as supporting character Corey Bryant in the MTV series Teen Wolf, and had starring roles in the independent film Slash (2016) and as Baron "Bear" Bailey in the horror film Obsession (2025), with the latter bringing him critical attention. He is also a voice actor for animation and video games, including as the English voice of Mikleo in Tales of Zestiria and its anime adaptation.
Early life
Michael Johnston (actor)
Johnston was born on February 22, 1996. He grew up in Ruth, North Carolina. After graduating from high school early, he moved with his father to Chicago, where he studied acting at The Second City. After six months there, he moved to Los Angeles.
Career
Michael Johnston (actor)
After unlocking a behind-the-scenes featurette in the video game Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance that showed voice actors recording character vocalizations, Johnston became interested in voice acting. Inspired by the video, he began creating two-dimensional point-and-click and Flash games, for which he performed his own voiceovers.
When he was 12 years old, he started auditioning for voice-over roles in commercials, animation, unpaid fan dubs, and student animation projects from a recording studio he had set up in his bedroom. At age sixteen, he booked his first paid role, in a Little Caesars commercial. He also provided narration for the Wubble Bubble Ball infomercials in 2014.
Johnston at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Voice acting
Johnston has voiced characters for video games, including Reed in Dust: An Elysian Tail, Mikleo in Tales of Zestiria, and Ephemer in Kingdom Hearts III. He also provided his voice for roles in TV shows such as Atsushi Minegishi in Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea and the eponymous character, Conrad Zacharie "Zak" Storm, in Zak Storm (both for English dubs). For films, he voiced the English dubbed versions of characters like Wasabi Kawamura in Ride Your Wave (2019), Shawn in The Academy of Magic (2020), and Hiiragi Yatsuse in My Oni Girl (2024). Johnston also currently voices young Nathan Summers in the Marvel Studios Animation series X-Men '97 (2024).
Television
Johnston appeared in a small role in MTV's teen comedy-drama Awkward. He then played Corey Bryant, a recurring character in the final two seasons of Teen Wolf, from 2015 to 2017.
Film
In 2016, Johnston had the lead role in the comedy film Slash, where he played Neil, a 15-year-old high school student who writes slash fiction. He also appeared in the indie supernatural horror film Bornless Ones (2017). In 2021, he played Noah Halsey in action-adventure film Endangered Species.
Johnston received attention in 2026 for his lead role as Baron "Bear" Bailey in the supernatural-horror film Obsession (2025), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Johnston's performance has been praised as a critique of the "nice guy". Following his breakthrough role in Obsession, Johnston signed with The Gersh Agency for film, television, and brand partnerships.
On July 27, 2026, Johnston was revealed to be in talks to join the cast of the untitled Mummy film.
Filmography
Film
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2">2012</td><td>Bee Wars</td><td>Buzzalot</td><td>Voice</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Totes Burgers</td><td>Evan</td><td>Short film</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Slash</td><td>Neil Shafer</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2017</td><td>Bornless Ones</td><td>Zach</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Maestro</td><td>Pietro Castelnuovo-Tedesco</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Crazy for the Boys</td><td>Chad</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Ride Your Wave</td><td>Wasabi Kawamura</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>The Academy of Magic</td><td>Shawn</td><td>Voice</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Endangered Species</td><td>Noah Halsey</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>My Oni Girl</td><td>Hiiragi Yatsuse</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Obsession</td><td>Baron "Bear" Bailey</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2027</td><td>Untitled The Mummy Returns sequel</td><td>TBA</td><td>Filming</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Television
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2012–2014</td><td>TOME: Terrain of Magical Expertise</td><td>Bubb / additional voices</td><td>Voice; 3 episodes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">2015</td><td>Tales of Zestiria: Dawn of the Shepherd</td><td>Mikleo</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Awkward</td><td>Senior</td><td>Episode: "The Graduates"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea</td><td>Atsushi Minegishi</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015–2017</td><td>Teen Wolf</td><td>Corey Bryant</td><td>25 episodes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2016</td><td>Tales of Zestiria the X</td><td>Mikleo</td><td>Voice; English dub (credited as Philip Lamont)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pure Genius</td><td>Luke Wallace</td><td>Episode: "It's Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider Silk Surgery"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016–2018</td><td>Zak Storm</td><td>Conrad Zacharie "Zak" Storm</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh</td><td>Keanu</td><td>Voice; episode: "Tip's Deep Dish / Garbage Day"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Supergirl</td><td>Adam</td><td>Episode: "Rather the Fallen Angel"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba</td><td>Shoichi</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>S.W.A.T.</td><td>Watson</td><td>Episode: "Cry Foul"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Akuma-kun</td><td>Akuma II / Ichirō Umoregi</td><td rowspan="2">Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Time Patrol Bon</td><td>Thoth / additional voices</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024–present</td><td>X-Men '97</td><td>Young Nathan Summers</td><td>Voice; 3 episodes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025–present</td><td>Gil Next Door</td><td>Wolly Pondbottom</td><td>Voice</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025-2026</td><td>Valt the Wonder Deer</td><td>Valt</td><td>Voice; English dub (Season 3)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2026</td><td>Nippon Sangoku: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun</td><td>Tonotsugu Taira</td><td>Voice; English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9-1-1</td><td>Sam Drayton</td><td>Episode: "Where There's Smoke"</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Video games
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Voice role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2012</td><td>Dust: An Elysian Tail</td><td>Reed</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Tales of Zestiria</td><td>Mikleo</td><td>English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2017</td><td>Fire Emblem Heroes</td><td>Lugh</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue</td><td>Ephemer</td><td>English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Last Year: The Nightmare</td><td>Nick</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">2019</td><td>Kingdom Hearts III</td><td>Ephemer</td><td>English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Blackout Club</td><td>Male Player / Daxton</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Concrete Genie</td><td>Zach</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2020</td><td>Marvel's Avengers</td><td>Dante</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Terrain of Magical Expertise</td><td>CrashR</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2021</td><td>The Artful Escape</td><td>Francis Vendetti</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles</td><td>Shoichi</td><td>English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2023</td><td>Paranormal Files: Silent Willow</td><td>Peter</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Texas Chain Saw Massacre</td><td>Danny</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Sweep the Board</td><td>Shoichi</td><td>English dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2026</td><td>God of War Sons of Sparta</td><td>Theophilos</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave</td><td>Peter</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Awards and nominations
Michael Johnston (actor)
<table><thead><tr><th>Award</th><th>Year</th><th>Work</th><th>Category</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Critics' Choice Super Awards</th><td rowspan="2">2026</td><td rowspan="2">Obsession</td><td>Best Actor in a Horror Movie</td><td>Nominated</td><td rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td>Best Villain in a Movie</td><td>Nominated</td></tr></tbody></table>