Behind the Helmets | Mighty Morphin | Rangers

Amy Jo Johnson
born October 6, 1970 in Dennis, Massachusetts on Cape Cod
Heritage: American

Characters Portrayed

Kimberly Ann Hart/Pink Morphin Ranger

MMPR 1-3 | T:APRM

Chronology
Amy's gymnastics launched her into fame, and now her music/television/film career keeps her on track

1970's and 1980's

It wasn't long at all before Amy took an acute interest in the world of gymnastics. After four years of intense training, Amy aimed for the Olympic Games themselves. Competing in the United States and Europe, Amy would reach the highest level of gymnastics, Level One. She completed fiercely in uneven bars, vault, beam and floor. But it came to a crashing hault when Amy suffered a severe injury, chiping the bone in one of her elbows and forcing Amy to forever end her pursuit of Olympic Gold.

1988

Amy graduated from Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School, but in a seperate ceremony from the rest of her classmates due to trouble she used to get into with a boy.

She also headed off to New York City to follow in interest in acting.

Late 1980's, Early 1990's

Amy would attend the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and the American Musical and Acting Academy. She appeared in the television series "The More you Know" as herself in 1989.

1992-1995

Once Amy had tuned her acting skills, she left for LA and auditioned for her first major role, which she landed as Kimberly Hart, the first Pink Ranger. The unexpected cult success of the show launched Amy into national, and later international, fame with the kind of exposure that some people only dream of. As the series evolved, so did Amy's character from the ditzy valley girl with a crush on Tommy (Jason David Frank) to an aspiring musical talent with a crush on Tommy. She remained on the show even after co-stars Thuy Trang, Walter Jones and Austin St. John left early on, but she herself would leave during the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1995, after the first Ranger movie was made. Ironically, her character suffered a severe gymnastics injurym placing her life in serious danger. The character would recover to compete nationally in gymnastics, leaving her powers to her replacement Katherine Hillard, played by Catherine Sutherland. But it would not be the last time Amy would associate herself with the Ranger franchise.

Her first role away from the pink spandex would be in filming "Arbie" latter that year. Her movie career was ready to be picked up.

1996

Following her departure from Power Rangers, Amy would star in Disney's television movie "Susie Q." Ironically, Disney would later buy out the Ranger frachise from Haim Saban in 2001.

In the same year, Amy guest starred as Linda in "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" in the episode "Backstage Pass." Wally Wingert, who would portray the Psycho Blue Ranger in 1998, also appeared in this. Keeping in touch with theatric roots, Amy was in the production of "Much Ado about Nothing" at the Knight Bridge Theatre in Pasadena, California.

She appeared on the March 9th episode of "Campus Cops" as a swimsuit contestant.

1997

This was a huge year for Amy as she was in three movies. First up was the NBC television movie "Killing Mr. Griffen," based on the novel by Lois Duncan playing the role of Susan McConnell. Then came another television movie "Perfect Body," which also aired on NBC that year in which Amy played Andie Bradley, a gymnist struggling against bulimia. Last but certainly not least, she reprised the role of Kimberly Hart in the second Power Rangers movie, "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie." Though she didn't pick up a morpher in this film, she did fight alongside Austin St. John, who reprised the role of Jason. This would mark the last time Amy appeared on Rangers until 2004, although Kimberly was breifly mentioned in the ten year anniversary episode "Forever Red" in 2002, which Austin had also returned.

Amy also appeared in the television show "The Eddie Files" as a doll salesperson in the episode "The Counting Principle: Eddie in Barbieland."

1998

In the film about Olympic runner Steve Prefontaine "Without Limits" Amy was one of Iowa's Finest, while in "Hercules," Amy was Callisto until 1999.

Amy would land another famous role on the WBs television show "Felicity" playing Julie Emrick, whose character was shaped at Amy's request, going from dancer to singer/guitarist. Amy almost turned the role down due to her mother suffering from uterine cancer, in which she died in that year. Amy stayed with the show during the first two seasons, then parted ways on the 48th episode, "Hello, I Must be Going" in 2000. Her leaving was due to long-overdue time to grieve for the loss of her mother, in which filming of the show preventing her from doing. She would later be a reoccuring guest star in the fourth and final season in 2001 in episodes 81 and 82. Amy composed an original song for the Felicity soundtrack entitled "Puddle of Grace." in 1999.

1999

Amy tried on the boots of a different kind of movie playing a vampire named Alicia in "Cold Hearts," an independent film.

The next movie on Amy's growing list was "Sweetwater: A True Rock Story" in which she starred as Nansi Nevins, and her band in which opened at Woodstock.

""My mom taught me to go after my dreams. I have this faith in myself that I must have gotten from her. I believe I can do anything. If I decide I want to be a doctor tomorrow, I'm going to be a doctor." Amy Jo Johnson, discussing memories of her mother; Teen People, December 1999."

2000

Amy was interviewed on the May 31st episode of the "Rosie O'Donnell Show" and also nominated for the Teen Choice Awards for her role on Felicity.

2001

This became a very busy year for Amy's resume'. But off the topic of her acting career, Amy attended the funeral of a former Power Rangers co-star, Thuy Trang, in which she spoke out regarding fond memories the two shared. Walter Jones, David Yost and Austin St. John also attended.

"The Liar's Club" and "Pursuit of Happiness" were two films Amy starred in. The former was a romantic independent film (originally entitled "Save me a Seat")playing the role of Karen, and the latter Amy appeared topless for the first time on the big screen in the role of "Tracy."

Later in the year she released her first album, "Trans-American Treatment" and performed live in LA in the "Amy Jo Johnson Band." Her former band was named "Valhalla."

Her guest appearances this year included the hit drama "ER" as Jill in the episode "Partly Cloudy, Chance for Rain" and the show "Night Visions" playing Sara in the "Rest Stop" episode. She was also featured in a holiday GAP commercial that year.

2002

This was also a big year for Amy regarding movies, in which she played the seductress Laura in "Interstate 60" and then Jesse in the horror film "Infestation." Towards the end of the year she returned to the theatre in the starring role of "Love, Janis" at the Village Theatre in New York City.

Amy would guest star on the hit television show "Spin City" as Stephanie in the episode "Sex, Lies and Video Date."

2003

Amy was given another starring role in the western television movie "Hard Ground" as Elizabeth Kennedy.

2004

This year brought Power Rangers back to Amy in two senses. First was in the episode "Legacy of Power" in Power Rangers DinoThunder in which an archive of past Rangers was being shown to the newest generation of Rangers (taught by Tommy, Kimberly's former love interest). This was the last time Kimberly was mentioned on the show.

Secondly, the television mini series "I Love the 90's" featured Amy and Walter Jones commentating on Power Rangers. Whereas Walter praised his work, Amy was sited at saying she'd never live her Ranger days down. Obviously the comment created a stir amongst Rangerfans, but Amy has since then been quoted as saying she has no issues with the fans or Rangers at all.

She would go on to appear in twenty-two episodes of the crime drama "The Division" in its final season playing Stacy Reynolds. Amy would then be herself on an episode of the "Sharone Osbourne Show."

2005

In the adventure film "Veritas, Prince of Truth," Amy played Marty Williams, while in the Sci Fi action movie "Magma: Volcanic Disaster," she portrayed Brianna Chapman. Thirdly, she played Tin in the drama film "Clean Breaks."

Her second album was released under the "Amy Jo Johnson Band" titled "Imperfect." She was also the co-producer of the film "In Memory of My Father."

2006

Amy portrayed the antagonist Kate in the television movie "Fatal Trust" and played Karen the car-girl on the television series "What about Brian?"

Another movie carried Amy's name in the credits as Cheryl Cole in "The Islander."

2006-2007

One of her latest projects is the television show "Wildfire" as Tina Sharp on location in New Mexico.