Johnson was portrayed by wrestler George 'The Animal' Steele in Tim Burton's film Ed Wood (1994). He was buried at the Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, California. In 1971, Johnson died from heart failure at the San Fernando Valley Hospital in San Fernando, California. He was very friendly to work with actress Valda Hansen, who worked with Johnson in 1959's Night of the Ghouls, described him as 'like a big sugar bun.' During this period, Johnson appeared as a guest contestant on the quiz show You Bet Your Life, during which he showed the show's host, Groucho Marx, his 'scariest face.' Marx ran off the stage in mock terror, then returned and pleaded: 'Don't make that face again!' Death and legacy

ĭuring his career as an actor, Johnson befriended director Ed Wood, who directed him in a number of films, including Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 from Outer Space. However, he continued to make appearances on television and made a number of commercials. His film career ended in the early 1960s, after he appeared in a string of poorly rated films. He began getting bit parts in films upon moving to California, usually as the strongman or weightlifter, as early as 1934. He had a full head of black hair, but shaved it to maintain an imposing and villainous appearance in his wrestling and acting work.

Johnson weighed 181 kilograms (400 pounds) at his heaviest. Johnson is interred in Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Cemetery, aįew paces down the hill from the mausoleum.Johnson in The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961) The latter was filmedĪlmost exclusively in the (now) Canyon Country-Soledad Canyon area and uses the old 6-S Ranch Airpark, which became Which was voted the worst movie of all time - and in 1961's ' Theīeast of Yucca Flats,' which actually WAS the worst movie of all time. Tor Johnson (1903-1971) starred in 1959's ' Plan 9 from Outer Space,' The original creator of over-the-head rubber masks. Maker Don Post (1902-1979), the 'Godfather of Halloween,' was The example shown here, which has no neck split, is from 1977, shortly before the changeover to vinyl. Sculpted from life in the 1960s by Pat Newman, the mask was cast in latex by Don Post Studios. Was sufficiently frightening to become the best-selling Halloween horror mask of the late 1960s-early 1970s. 'Eternal' Santa Clarita Valley resident Tor Johnson's face - unadulterated but for the addition of a forehead scar.

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