J.J. continues to work theater, stage, and media in and around Portland, Oregon and, in 2013-14, appeared in a series of spots for Northwest Honda and Northern California Honda Dealers through Baker Street Advertising, including a spot that aired during the 2013 Super Bowl weekend in both English and dubbed Spanish. In this series of spots , the actor turns in off-kilter comedic portrayals of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington who are surfing, snowboarding, or just hanging out in a coffee shop browsing the web.
He was nominated for a 1976 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "American Buffalo" at the St. Nicholas Theater Company in Chicago, Illinois.
He was nominated for a 1977 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for his performance in "Some Kind of Life" at the Actors Company at Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
The play and book American Buffalo, is dedicated to "Mr. J.J. Johnston of Chicago Illinois".
David Mamet and J.J. Johnston, played "Tweedle Dee" and "Tweedle Dumb", in the Chicago production of "Alice in Wonderland".
Is fluent in "Mametese".
Author of four books on Boxing.
1983-84 New York Theatre World Award Winner - Outstanding New Talent "American Buffalo" (Al Pacino ).
1985 L.A. Drama Circle Louge Award - Winner - Best Ensemble "Glengarry Glen Ross".
1986 Bay Area Critics Award - Winner - Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actor "Glengarry Glen Ross".
1996 L.A. Drama Circle Lounge Award - Winner - Best Ensemble - "Detective Story".
2004 Inductee to The California Boxing Hall of Fame - Observer - Historian.
