Punkie Johnson

Jessica Williams, known professionally as Punkie Johnson, was born on April 29, 1985, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Catholic and public schools in New Orleans, raised by her single mother, Mary Johnson, and graduated from McDonogh 35 High School in 2003. Johnson pursued her higher education at Nicholls State University in Thibaudaux, Louisiana, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 2008. Her career in comedy began as a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles, eventually becoming a paid regular at The Comedy Store. In 2019, she performed at the Just for Laughs comedy festival.

Johnson’s acting career includes appearances in television series such as “Space Force,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Corporate,” and “Adam Ruins Everything.” A significant career milestone occurred in 2020 when she was cast as a featured player on “Saturday Night Live” for its 46th season. Her contributions led to her promotion to repertory status in 2022, prior to the 48th season. During her tenure at “Saturday Night Live,” Johnson was recognized as the first openly Black queer woman to join the main cast, making history for the show. She remained with “Saturday Night Live” for four seasons, with her final episode airing on May 18, 2024, before her departure was announced in August 2024.

Beyond her television work, Johnson has also appeared in films like “Bottoms” (2023), where she played the character Rhodes, “ZombieCON” (2018), and “Yes We Cannabis” (2023) as a voice actor. She has also contributed as a producer to projects such as “ZombieCON Vol. 1” (2024), “Queer as Folk” (2022), and “ZombieCON” (2018). Her writing credits include an episode of the TV series “Straight Up, Stand Up” in 2019. Johnson identifies as a lesbian and a member of the queer community.