Jessica Williams (born April 29, 1985),[1] known professionally as Punkie Johnson, is an American comedian, actress, and writer based in New York City. Johnson was a stand-up comedian at The Comedy Store, before becoming a featured player on Saturday Night Live starting in its forty-sixth season. She was promoted to repertory status in 2022 before the beginning of the 48th season.
Punkie Johnson | |
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![]() Johnson in 2021 | |
Born | Jessica Williams (1985-04-29) April 29, 1985 (age 37) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
Alma mater | Nicholls State University |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2015–present |
Johnson, born Jessica Williams, was raised by her mother, Mary Johnson, in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she attended Catholic and public schools, graduating in May 2003[1] from McDonogh 35 High School.[1][2] Johnson studied at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where she graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies.[1]
Johnson began her career as a stand-up comedian. She later joined The Comedy Store in Los Angeles as a paid regular.[2] In 2019, Johnson performed at Just for Laughs.[3]
As an actress, Johnson appeared in various television series such as Space Force, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Corporate, and Adam Ruins Everything.[4][5]
In 2020, Johnson was cast as a featured player on Saturday Night Live, starting in its forty-sixth season. She was promoted to repertory status in 2022 before the beginning of the 48th season. Johnson is the eighth black female cast member in the show's history, the second black LGBT woman to be a cast member (following Danitra Vance, who was not publicly out during her lifetime), and the seventh LGBT cast member overall.[4][5][6][7] She was promoted to repertory status at the beginning of the show's forty-eighth season.
Johnson identifies as lesbian as well as identifying within the queer community. She and her wife had been partnered since 2002,[3] but in a 2022 episode of the podcast Films To Be Buried With she revealed she was in the middle of divorce proceedings and had since begun a new relationship.[8] According to an interview with NBC News, Johnson identifies strongly with queerness: “I’m just this little lesbian chick from New Orleans who is just enjoying life doing comedy and thinking that’s it.” [9]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2019 | The Lot | Punkie | Short film |
2020 | Sixteen Thousand Dollars | Jo'Nique | Short film |
2020 | The Adventures of Whit | Detective | Short film |
TBA | Bottoms | Post-production | |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2018 | Take My Wife | Episode: “Episode 205” | |
2018 | Adam Ruins Everything | Ava | Episode: "Adam Ruins Guns" |
2019 | Corporate | Taylor the Tattoo Artist | Episode: "The Fall" |
2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Dance Biter | Episode: "Angela Bassett Is the Baddest Bitch" |
2019 | Crank Yankers | Shasta | Episode: "Jimmy Kimmel, Kathy Griffin & Jeff Ross" |
2020 | Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers | Herself | |
2020 | Space Force | Staff Sergeant Kiki Rhodes | Episode: "Space Flag" |
2020–present | Saturday Night Live | Various characters | Repertory cast member |
2021 | Love Life | Ida Watkins | Supporting role (season 2) |
2022 | Ghosts | Ally | guest star, season 2-episode 4
"The Tree" |
Danitra Vance, a lesbian, is tied with Sweeney for first LGBT cast member on SNL, though she was not out publicly during her lifetime.
Current Saturday Night Live cast members | |
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Repertory players | |
Featured players |
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Others |
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