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Johnny Lewis

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For other people named Johnny Lewis, see Johnny Lewis (disambiguation).
Johnny Lewis
Lewis at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival at the premiere of the film Palo Alto
Born
Jonathan Kendrick Lewis

(1983-10-29)October 29, 1983
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedSeptember 26, 2012(2012-09-26) (aged 28)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active2000–2012
Children1

Jonathan Kendrick Lewis (October 29, 1983 – September 26, 2012), also credited as Johnny K. Lewis, was an American film and television actor. Lewis is best known for playing Kip "Half-Sack" Epps in the first two seasons of the FX series Sons of Anarchy. He also appeared in supporting roles in the films Underclassman (2005), Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), and The Runaways (2010).

Early life

Lewis grew up in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of North Hollywood and Sherman Oaks. He was the middle child of Michael and Divona Lewis. His parents were practicing Scientologists and Johnny was himself a Scientologist for most of his life. After finishing school, he left home at the age of 18 to pursue an acting career.[1]

Career

Lewis began making television appearances while in his late teens, with guest starring roles in Boston Public (2000), The Guardian (2001), and American Dreams (2002), among others. His debut feature film performance premiered in 2004, in New Line Cinema's Raise Your Voice, and he followed that up with Miramax Films' Underclassman in 2005. He co-starred as Pearce Chase, one of five siblings on the Fox series Quintuplets, and appeared in the movie Raise Your Voice (2004) alongside Hilary Duff. He guest starred in four episodes of the Nickelodeon television series Drake & Josh as Scottie, one of Drake's bandmates, and from 2005 to 2006, he played Dennis "Chili" Childress on The O.C.. Lewis also had a guest spot in the third episode of Smallville season 5.

He also starred in the film Magic Valley (2011), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Lewis was well known for his role as prospect biker Kip "Half-Sack" Epps in the first two seasons of the FX original series Sons of Anarchy.

Personal life

Lewis dated American singer Katy Perry from 2005 to 2006.[2] In mid-2009, Lewis learned he and his then-girlfriend, actress Diane Gaeta, were expecting a baby. The couple had split up by April 6, 2010, when the couple's daughter, Culla May, was born, but briefly attempted sharing a residence. Lewis eventually moved out, after which the couple engaged in a "long and painful" custody battle that Lewis ultimately lost.[3]

Religion

Lewis was raised in a "Jewish-oriented household", though his family also practiced Scientology; his parents attained the highest available level within Scientology, called "Operating Thetan", or OT VIII.[3] He starred in Scientology training films, and was a sponsor of the Scientology drug rehabilitation group Narconon.[4][5] Lewis left the Church of Scientology in his early 20s.[6]

Lewis was arrested three times between 2011 and 2012. In January 2012, he struck two men in the head with a bottle while engaged in a fight. He pleaded no contest to charges of assault with a deadly weapon in the case.[6] The second arrest came about six weeks after the first, with Lewis accused of attempting to break into a woman's home. He pleaded no contest in that case as well. Considering the cases, a probation official expressed that he was "very concerned for the well-being of not only the community but that of the defendant", that Lewis suffered from mental health issues as well as chemical dependency, and that Lewis would "continue to be a threat to any community he may reside in".[6] Lewis was released from a Los Angeles County, California, jail on September 21, 2012, five days before his death.[6]

Psychiatric diagnosis

On October 30, 2011, Lewis suffered head injuries from a high-speed motorcycle accident. Though an MRI was recommended, and Lewis's father scheduled MRI tests twice, Lewis refused to take them. Lewis's father also states that he "pursued and encouraged psychiatric treatment for his son. It was Johnny who refused to comply."[3] He started manifesting bizarre and illogical behavior from that point on and concurrent to his ensuing legal troubles.

Bill Jensen reported in Los Angeles magazine that Lewis and his attorneys pushed for rehab for marijuana addiction. When Lewis rejected this, they pursued rehab for alcoholism, to avoid trial.[3]

In early August 2012, Lewis was well enough to be granted provisional out-patient status. He made a deal with the District Attorney of the San Fernando Court - his freedom for "time served". Lewis was assured that he would likely just spend a couple more days in jail, no more. The couple of days turned into nearly two more months, during which he suffered a severe downturn in health and spirits. He was released from jail September 21 2012.[7]

Death

On September 26, 2012, Lewis and his 81-year-old landlady Catherine Davis were found dead at Davis' home.[3] Davis was known in Hollywood for operating the Writers' Villa, a bed-and-breakfast for up-and-coming performers, directors and writers, in her home. Lewis, who had previously lived there in 2009, had recently moved back in. Police were called by neighbors after Lewis violently attacked two people at the property next door and Davis was heard screaming. Upon arriving, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) found Lewis' body on the home's driveway.[8] Davis was found dead inside the house, having suffered severe head injuries; her pet cat Jessie was also found dead in a bathroom.[3]

Neighbors reported that Lewis had jumped over a fence to the next-door property, assaulted a house painter and the homeowner (to whom Lewis had earlier introduced himself as "John, your new neighbor"), and then jumped back over the fence onto Davis' property.[3][8] According to the LAPD, Lewis then either fell or jumped from the roof, garage, or patio of Davis' house.[8][9][10][11] Davis' death was investigated as a homicide, and it was later determined that Lewis had killed Davis by manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to her head, and also killed her cat.[3][8]

An autopsy report released on November 29, 2012 stated that Lewis did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system when he died. Lewis had a history of drug abuse, leading to speculation by his attorney that the actor may have suffered a drug-induced psychosis when he allegedly killed his landlady.[12] However, toxicology reports came back negative for alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, psychedelic drugs, or anti-psychotic medication. The autopsy report did indicate he had suffered partial strangulation and had fingernail marks on his neck when he died.[12] There was no indication that Lewis had been pushed or that he jumped from the roof in an act of suicide. His death was ruled accidental.[12]

His family has spoken out about Lewis's history of untreated head trauma, leading some to speculate that he developed a psychological disorder, which led to his sudden spurts of violence.[3] Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter tweeted about Johnny Lewis's death: "It was a tragic end for an extremely talented guy, who unfortunately had lost his way. I wish I could say that I was shocked by the events last night, but I was not. I am deeply sorry that an innocent life had to be thrown into his destructive path. Yes, it's day or [sic] mourning, but it's also a day of awareness and gratitude. Sadly, some of us carry the message by dying."[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2004 Raise Your Voice Engelbert "Kiwi" Wilson
2005 Pretty Persuasion Warren Prescott
2005 Underclassman Alexander Jeffries
2007 Palo Alto Nolan
2007 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Ricky Howard
2008 One Missed Call Brian Sousa
2008 Felon Snowman
2010 The Runaways Scottie
2011 Lovely Molly Tim
2011 Magic Valley John
2012 186 Dollars to Freedom Jorge

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2000 7th Heaven Norton Episode: "Tunes"
2000 Malcolm in the Middle Cadet Martin Episode: "Therapy"
2001–2003 Boston Public Bodhi 4 episodes
2001 Undressed Ray 5 episodes
2001–2002 The Sausage Factory Gilby 13 episodes
2001 Judging Amy Desmond Episode: "Surprised by Gravity"
2002 The Guardian Ted Popper Episode: "Mothers of the Disappeared"
2002 Yes, Dear Ricky Episode: "Making Babies"
2003–2004 American Dreams Lenny 7 episodes
2004 Drake & Josh Scottie 4 episodes
2004–2005 Quintuplets Pearce Chase 22 episodes
2005–2006 The O.C. Dennis "Chili" Childress 9 episodes
2005 Smallville Gabriel Duncan Episode: "Hidden"
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Tad Sidley Episode: "Up in Smoke"
2007 Bones Enzo Falcinella Episode: "The Priest in the Churchyard"
2007 Shark Michael Hackford Episode: "Student Body"
2008 Cold Case Truitt "Spider" Leland '98 Episode: "Spiders"
2008–2009 Sons of Anarchy Kip "Half Sack" Epps 26 episodes
2009 Criminal Minds Eric Ryan Olson Episode: "Zoe's Reprise"

References

  1. ^ Jensen, Bill (January 30, 2014). "The Secret Life of Johnny Lewis". Los Angeles Magazine. Los Angeles, CA.
  2. ^ "Johnny Lewis, Katy Perry: Singer Distraught Over Ex-Boyfriend's Untimely Death". The Huffington Post. September 27, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bill Jensen (January 30, 2014). "The Secret Life of Johnny Lewis". Los Angeles. p. 1 of 3.
  4. ^ Baker Machado; Sheena Rao; Alexis L. Loinaz; Melanie Bromley. "Johnny Lewis' Scientology Link: Sons of Anarchy Star Was "Born Into the Church," Source Says". E! News (UK). Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. ^ Dillon, Nancy; Cavaliere, Victoria (September 28, 2012). "'Sons of Anarchy' actor Johnny Lewis was 'out of control' before rampage, championed Scientology drug-treatment program before rampage". nydailynews.com. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d Risling, Greg (September 28, 2012). "Warning signs seen before actor's violent end". Associated Press. Retrieved September 29, 2012 – via Yahoo! News.
  7. ^ "The Secret Life of Johnny Lewis". LAMag. January 30, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Suspect in killing of Los Angeles woman was actor". AP via Yahoo! News. September 27, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  9. ^ "'Sons of Anarchy' Actor Johnny Lewis Found Dead -- Suspect in Bizarre L.A. Double Death". TMZ. September 27, 2012.
  10. ^ "Johnny Lewis Dead: 'Sons Of Anarchy' Actor Found Dead Outside Los Feliz Woman's Home". The Huffington Post. September 27, 2012.
  11. ^ "Katy Perry's ex, Johnny Lewis, found dead". Toronto Sun. September 27, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c McCartney, Anthony (November 29, 2012). "Actor who apparently killed landlady not on drugs". Associated Press. Retrieved December 1, 2012 – via Yahoo! News.
  13. ^ "Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter responds to Johnny Lewis' death". LA Times. September 27, 2012.
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