John Lester Johnson (born John Leslie Johnson; August 13, 1893 – March 27, 1968) was an American professional boxer and actor. He is perhaps best known for his 1916 boxing match against Jack Dempsey, and his 1933 performance as Bumbo, the titular character in the Our Gang comedy short The Kid From Borneo.
From 1912-1929, Johnson amassed a professional boxing record of 39-29-6, with 23 of his wins by knockout.[3] In 1916 Johnson fought future world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey to a 10-round draw, during which Dempsey suffered several broken ribs.[1] Although a draw, Dempsey later said, "I thought he [Johnson] licked me. I didn't know how to fight then and Johnson did. Yes, I think he won."[4]
Johnson appeared in the 1933 Our Gang comedy The Kid From Borneo as Bumbo, a circus attraction billed as a "Wild Man from Borneo." Garbed in elaborate tribal attire and repetitively saying "Yum Yum, eat 'em up!" at the sight of candy, Bumbo is mistaken by some of the Our Gang children as both a cannibal and their Uncle George, the latter earlier described by their mother as "the black sheep of the family." A frenetic chase ensues when Bumbo attempts to take the children's candy, during which he and the children demolish much of a home's furnishings.[7]
^Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard (1992-11-24). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. New York: Three Rivers Press. p. 320. ISBN978-0517583258.
^"Cast Member: John Lester Johnson". The Three Stooges Online Filmography. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
^"John Lester Johnson". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
External links
Media related to John Lester Johnson at Wikimedia Commons
john, lester, johnson, born, john, leslie, johnson, august, 1893, march, 1968, american, professional, boxer, actor, perhaps, best, known, 1916, boxing, match, against, jack, dempsey, 1933, performance, bumbo, titular, character, gang, comedy, short, from, bor. John Lester Johnson born John Leslie Johnson August 13 1893 March 27 1968 was an American professional boxer and actor He is perhaps best known for his 1916 boxing match against Jack Dempsey and his 1933 performance as Bumbo the titular character in the Our Gang comedy short The Kid From Borneo John Lester JohnsonJohnson in Tarzan s Revenge 1938 BornJohn Leslie Johnson 1893 08 13 August 13 1893Suffolk Virginia U S DiedMarch 27 1968 1968 03 27 aged 74 West Los Angeles California U S Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery Los AngelesOccupation s Boxer actorYears active1922 1942SpouseLulu DillBoxing careerStatisticsWeight s Light heavyweight HeavyweightHeight5 ft 11 1 2 in 182 cm Boxing recordTotal fights74Wins39Wins by KO23Losses29Draws6 Contents 1 Early life and boxing career 2 Acting career 3 Illness and Death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and boxing career EditJohnson was born in Aug 13 1893 in Suffolk Virginia one of 11 children During World War I Johnson served in the 367th Infantry 1 a Buffalo Soldier outfit of the United States Army 2 From 1912 1929 Johnson amassed a professional boxing record of 39 29 6 with 23 of his wins by knockout 3 In 1916 Johnson fought future world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey to a 10 round draw during which Dempsey suffered several broken ribs 1 Although a draw Dempsey later said I thought he Johnson licked me I didn t know how to fight then and Johnson did Yes I think he won 4 Johnson also had fights against the notable boxers Joe Jeanette Harry Wills Kid Norfolk and Bill Tate 5 6 Acting career Edit Colorized image of John Lester Johnson as Bumbo in The Kid From Borneo Johnson appeared in the 1933 Our Gang comedy The Kid From Borneo as Bumbo a circus attraction billed as a Wild Man from Borneo Garbed in elaborate tribal attire and repetitively saying Yum Yum eat em up at the sight of candy Bumbo is mistaken by some of the Our Gang children as both a cannibal and their Uncle George the latter earlier described by their mother as the black sheep of the family A frenetic chase ensues when Bumbo attempts to take the children s candy during which he and the children demolish much of a home s furnishings 7 Along with two Three Stooges films 8 Johnson s other film credits include Radio Patrol 1932 A Scream in the Night 1934 The Glory Trail 1936 Tarzan s Revenge 1938 Mr Washington Goes to Town 1942 and Professor Creeps 1942 Illness and Death EditIn a 1960 article published in Ebony Johnson disclosed that following his acting career he worked as a special officer at Cheli Air Force Station and that he suffered a series of disabling strokes in the late 1950s resulting in partial paralysis 1 Johnson lived at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles until his death in 1968 Johnson is interred at the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles 9 References Edit a b c The Man Who Broke Jack Dempsey s Ribs Magazine Google Books Google Books Ebony 1960 pp 80 85 Retrieved 2020 06 04 Schaap James C 2018 10 22 Buffalo Soldiers in the Trenches Siouxland Public Media Retrieved 2020 06 03 John Lester Johnson BoxRec Retrieved 2020 06 03 Runyon Damon 2019 08 02 Jack Dempsey A Tale of Two Fists Independent p 250 ISBN 978 1086796131 John Lester Johnson BoxRec Retrieved 2020 06 03 John Lester Johnson Cyber Boxing Zone Retrieved 2020 06 03 Maltin Leonard Bann Richard 1992 11 24 The Little Rascals The Life and Times of Our Gang New York Three Rivers Press p 320 ISBN 978 0517583258 Cast Member John Lester Johnson The Three Stooges Online Filmography Retrieved 2020 06 03 John Lester Johnson Find A Grave Retrieved 2020 06 03 External links Edit Media related to John Lester Johnson at Wikimedia Commons Biography portalJohn Lester Johnson at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Lester Johnson amp oldid 1152533720, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
