Ray William Johnson#Equals Three

Johnson was born on August 14, 1981, and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and attended Norman North High School, where he graduated in 1999. He later attended the Columbia University School of General Studies, where he studied history, but did not graduate. His goal was to later earn a Juris Doctor degree after completing his undergraduate studies. He began posting videos on YouTube during college. These videos were video blogs that Johnson published on a now-deleted channel. These early videos garnered a following of around thirty people.

Johnson began posting videos to his "Ray William Johnson" channel in April 2009. In 2011, the channel became YouTube's first to reach five million subscribers. The channel had also attained nearly two billion total views. Originally, Johnson produced videos out of his New York City apartment, but, in 2011, he signed a deal with Maker Studios to produce videos on set in Culver City, California. While at Maker Studios, Johnson produced a Spanish-language version of the series, Igual a Tres, and also produced a series of comedic animated music videos on a side channel called "Your Favorite Martian."{{cite magazine | last=Humphrey| first=Michael| title =Maker Studios: The YouTube Savants Talk Channel Expansion| magazine = Forbes| date =7 November 2011 | url =https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2011/11/07/maker-studios-the-youtube-savants-talk-channel-expansion/| access-date =29 August 2015}}

In October 2012, Johnson announced that he would be leaving Maker Studios, contending that they had been pressuring him to sign a new contract that limited his access to his AdSense account and would reportedly take 40% of his earnings from the series. The contract also would have required Johnson to give up 50% of his intellectual property rights to the show and his other animated web project, Your Favorite Martian.{{cite web | last=Dickey| first=Megan Rose| title =This YouTube Star Is In The Middle Of A Very Ugly, Public Fight With His Studio| website = Business Insider| date =13 December 2012 | url =http://www.businessinsider.com/ray-william-johnson-fight-with-maker-studios-2012-12| access-date =27 August 2015}} In November 2012, Johnson founded his own production studio, Equals Three Studios (then known as Runaway Planet), and continued producing Equals Three. Your Favorite Martian series was ended that same month.{{cite news | last=Gutelle| first=Sam| title =RayWilliamJohnson Starting His Own Studio With Help From Julian Smith| publisher = Tubefilter| date =27 November 2012 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/11/27/ray-william-johnson-runaway-planet-studio-julian-smith/| access-date =27 August 2015}}

In December 2013, Johnson announced that he would be ending Equals Three in the near future to focus on other projects.{{cite news | last=Gutelle| first=Sam| title =Ray William Johnson To End '=3′ Sometime In 2014| publisher = Tubefilter| date =30 December 2013 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2013/12/30/ray-william-johnson-equals-three-end-2014/| access-date =27 August 2015}} His last show as host (titled "THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING") was published on March 12, 2014, and was around 14 minutes long.{{cite news | last=Gutelle| first=Sam| title =Ray William Johnson Looks For New Host In Last Episode Of '=3′| publisher = Tubefilter| date =13 March 2014 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/03/13/ray-william-johnson-last-episode-equals-three/| access-date =27 August 2015}} The channel had over 10 million subscribers and 2.6 billion total views at the time of Johnson's departure.{{cite news | last=Cohen| first=Joshua| title =Ray William Johnson Sets A March 12, 2014 End Date For '=3'| publisher = Tubefilter| date =10 March 2014 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/03/10/ray-william-johnson-equals-3-last-episode-end-date/| access-date =27 August 2015}} The show returned in July 2014 with Robby Motz as host.{{cite news | last=Gutelle| first=Sam| title =Ray William Johnson's '=3′ To Return On July 15th With New Host| publisher = Tubefilter| date =3 July 2014 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/07/03/ray-william-johnson-equals-three-july-15th/| access-date =27 August 2015}}{{cite magazine | last=Spangler| first=Todd| title =YouTube Star Ray William Johnson Picks New Host of 'Equals Three,' Robby Motz (Exclusive)| magazine = Variety| date =15 July 2014 | url =https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/youtube-star-ray-william-johnson-announces-new-host-of-equals-three-exclusive-1201262899/| access-date =27 August 2015}} Motz would depart in July 2015, at which point Kaja Martin, one of Johnson's frequent collaborators, took over as host,{{cite news | last=Gutelle| first=Sam| title =Kaja Martin Takes Over As Host Of Ray William Johnson's '=3'| publisher = Tubefilter| date =28 July 2015 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2015/07/28/kaja-martin-takes-over-as-host-of-ray-william-johnsons-3/| access-date =27 August 2015}} but Martin was subsequently replaced by Carlos Santos in December 2015.

In 2015, Johnson sued Jukin Media for requesting the removal of 40 Equals Three videos which sampled their content. The case was later settled.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/members/2016/03/04/ray-william-johnson-settles-in-suit-against-jukin-media-juror-confirms-40-of-40-videos-ruled-not-fair-use/|title=Ray William Johnson Settles in Suit Against Jukin Media; Juror Confirms 40 of 40 Videos Ruled Not Fair Use|publisher=The Wrap|date=2016-03-04|access-date=2019-01-18}}

The series featured numerous celebrity guests, including Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Gabriel Iglesias, John Cho, and Jason Biggs.{{cite news|date=18 July 2013|title=Ray William Johnson and his Equals Three series are everything that's great about YouTube|publisher=Dose.ca|url=http://www.dose.ca/2013/07/18/ray-william-johnson-and-his-equals-three-series-are-everything-thats-great-about-youtube|access-date=26 November 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Ray |title=GABE WILLIAM JOHNSON (2011) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sMvBEybvRY |website=youtube.com |access-date=February 16, 2020}}{{cite news|title=Sarah Silverman Co-Hosts '=3', Reacts To 9-Year-Old Philosopher (VIDEO)|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/sarah-silverman-co-hosts-equals-three-9-year-old-philosopher_n_3055061.html|access-date=26 November 2017|work=Huffington Post|date=10 April 2013}}

In December 2013, Johnson debuted his first scripted series, Riley Rewind, which was originally released on Facebook before migrating to YouTube. The series revolved around a teenager with a special time-shifting power. It was released in 5 parts and cumulatively totaled about 50 minutes.{{cite magazine | last=Eordogh| first=Fruzsina| title =Top 10 Web Series of 2013| magazine = Variety| date =24 December 2013 | url =https://variety.com/gallery/top-10-web-series-of-2013/#!5/undefined/| access-date =27 August 2015}} In 2015, Johnson reported the series had received 10 million views on Facebook.{{cite news|last1=Brouwer|first1=Bree|title=YouTuber Ray William Johnson is back with 'How to Get a Date'|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/ray-william-johnson-youtube-how-get-date/|access-date=26 November 2016|work=The Daily Dot|date=13 February 2015}}

Earlier in 2013, Johnson was in talks with FX Networks about a scripted series based on his life. The network gave Johnson a script commitment. The script was to be written by Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller.{{cite magazine | last=Goldberg| first=Lesley| title =YouTube Breakout Ray William Johnson Sells Comedy to FX (Exclusive)| magazine = The Hollywood Reporter| date =17 May 2013 | url =http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/youtube-breakout-ray-william-johnson-524675| access-date =27 August 2015}}

Since his departure from Equals Three, Johnson has continued producing comedic series for his main "Ray William Johnson" channel. These series included Booze Lightyear, Top 6, and Comedians On. Booze Lightyear was a scripted sketch comedy web series that featured a variety of different actors often in comedic situations. Johnson appeared on the series' first episode in February 2015. Top 6 is "list show" that is written and hosted by Kelly Landry and discusses 6 items about a given topic each episode. Top 6 also premiered in February 2015. Comedians On premiered in July 2015 and featured a collection of different comedians humorously discussing a chosen topic with Carlos Santos as host. "Comedians On" along with "Booze Lightyear" were eventually cancelled at roughly the same time that Carlos Santos became host of "Equals Three". All of these shows (including Equals Three itself) are produced by Equals Three Studios. Johnson occasionally appears in these shows and in "update vlogs" on the channel.

Johnson was attached to an indie film project entitled Who's Driving Doug in May 2014.{{cite news|last1=Linden|first1=Sheri|title=Review 'Who's Driving Doug' is a bumpy, cliche-filled trip to Vegas|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-whos-driving-doug-review-20160226-story.html|access-date=26 November 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=25 February 2016}} He was cast in a role as a new driver for a disabled recluse played by former Breaking Bad star, RJ Mitte. The film was written by Michael Carnick, who uses a wheelchair as the result of a rare disorder, and also stars Paloma Kwiatkowski.{{cite news | last=Jaworski| first=Michelle| title ='Breaking Bad' and YouTube stars align in 'Who's Driving Doug' | work = The Daily Dot| date =14 May 2014 | url =http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/ray-william-johnson-film-rj-mitte/| access-date =27 August 2015}} Who's Driving Doug was released in February 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.whosdrivingdoug.com/ |title=Who's Driving Doug |author= |publisher=Who's Driving Doug? |access-date=27 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916040726/http://www.whosdrivingdoug.com/ |archive-date=September 16, 2015 |url-status=usurped }}{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3733606/ |title=Who's Driving Doug|author= |website= www.imdb.com|publisher=IMDb |access-date=27 August 2015}} Johnson previously had a small part in Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie. He appeared in a series of advertisements for DiGiorno pizzas in January 2016, alongside Colleen Ballinger, DeStorm Power, and American football player Clay Matthews III.{{cite web|last1=Gutelle|first1=Sam|title=Social Media Stars DeStorm, Colleen [Ballinger] Evans, Ray William Johnson Make Super Bowl Videos With DiGiorno|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2016/01/20/destorm-colleen-evans-ray-william-johnson-clay-matthews-digiorno/|website=Tubefilter|date=January 20, 2016|access-date=21 January 2016}}

Johnson is also the co-creator (with former Equals Three host, Kaja Martin) of the film production company, Mom & Pop Empire. They are currently{{When|date=May 2021}} working on a documentary project seeking to expose cable monopolies. Johnson and Martin are co-producers along with Max Benator and Marc Hustvedt's Supergravity Pictures. Johnson is expected to narrate the film. Mom & Pop Empire had previously co-produced a film called Manson Family Vacation with Mark and Jay Duplass. The film premiered at South by Southwest in 2015 and its distribution rights were purchased by Netflix soon after. Johnson and Martin are also working on a separate film starring Johnson and a long-form movie version of their web series Booze Lightyear as part of Mom & Pop Empire.{{cite news | last=Gutelle| first=Sam| title =Ray William Johnson, Supergravity Pictures Partner For Documentary Film| publisher = Tubefilter| date =14 April 2015 | url =http://www.tubefilter.com/2015/04/14/ray-william-johnson-documentary-supergravity/| access-date =27 August 2015}}{{cite magazine | last=Setoodeh| first=Ramin| title =Netflix Acquires 'Manson Family Vacation' at SXSW (EXCLUSIVE)| magazine = Variety| date =17 March 2015 | url =https://variety.com/2015/film/news/netflix-manson-family-vacation-sxsw-1201454773/| access-date =27 August 2015}}

In the musical sphere, Johnson released an album titled Fat Damon in 2018, which featured three tracks: "Conspiracy Theory Guy (ft. Wax)", "My Life Is Dope," and "Fred Astaire".{{cite web |title=What Happened to Ray William Johnson - 2023 Updates |url=https://gazettereview.com/2023/08/what-happened-ray-william-johnson/ |accessdate=October 27, 2023 |publisher=Gazette Review}} Additionally, he formed a virtual band named The Upside Downs, although the timeline of their releases is not specified.{{cite web |title=What Happened to Ray William Johnson - 2023 Updates |url=https://gazettereview.com/2023/08/what-happened-ray-william-johnson/ |accessdate=October 27, 2023 |publisher=Gazette Review}}

In 2020, Johnson returned to YouTube after a yearlong hiatus with a new series called Svperhvman.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com |title=Ray William Johnson Returns To YouTube After Yearlong Absence |publisher=IMDB |accessdate=October 27, 2023}} He has since transitioned to creating YouTube Shorts and short-form comedic sketches on Facebook.{{cite web |url=https://gazettereview.com/2023/08/what-happened-ray-william-johnson/ |title=What Happened to Ray William Johnson - 2023 Updates |publisher=Gazette Review |accessdate=October 27, 2023}} He also revived his side project "Your Favorite Martian" releasing a new video called "Orphan Tears Part 2", the first in over ten years.{{Cite web |last=Oswald |first=Derek |title=Popular 'Your Favorite Martian' Returns June 1st! - AltWire |url=https://www.altwire.net/your-favorite-martian-return/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=AltWire |language=en-US}}

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Variety magazine called Johnson's scripted web series, Riley Rewind, the 7th best web series of 2013. Johnson was also listed among The Hollywood Reporter{{'}}s "Comedy Class of 2013."{{cite magazine | title =The Hollywood Reporter Unveils Comedy Class of 2013| magazine = The Hollywood Reporter| date =1 May 2013 | url =http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/ray-william-johnson-449178| access-date =27 August 2015}} French YouTubers Antoine Daniel and {{ill|Mathieu Sommet|fr|Mathieu Sommet}} have cited Johnson's Equal 3 as their inspiration, respectively for What The Cut !? and Salut les Geeks !.

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• {{YouTube|u=raywilliamjohnson|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}
• {{IMDb name|3721841}}
• {{Instagram|raywilliamjohnson|Ray William Johnson}}

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Category:1981 births

Category:American male comedians

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Maker Studios people

Category:Male actors from Oklahoma City

Category:Number-one YouTube channels in subscribers

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2009

Category:Comedians from Oklahoma City

Category:YouTubers from Oklahoma

Category:Norman North High School alumni

Category:American comedy rappers

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