Introduction
Bryan Lee Johnson (born December 7, 1967) is an American podcaster, actor, television personality, and comic book writer associated with filmmaker Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse. He is best known by his local fame in New Jersey and appearances in Smith's New Jersey films as comic book store owner Steve-Dave Pulasti. He was also the basis for the Clerks character Randal Graves. Through his friendship with Smith, he was often involved in his productions until Smith moved to Los Angeles. He wrote and directed one film, Vulgar (2000), for View Askew. He worked briefly at the Los Angeles branch of Smith's comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. Since 2010, he has been a co-host of Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!, a podcast created with fellow View Askewniverse staple Walt Flanagan and Brian Quinn ofThe Tenderloins Comedy Troupe and Impractical Jokers. From 2012-2018, Johnson also co-starred on the AMC reality series Comic Book Men.
Johnson has collaborated with Flanagan in creating comics adapted from their screenplays, including the 2004 miniseries Karney and the 2007 miniseries War of the Undead.
Early life
Bryan Lee Johnson was born in Highlands, New Jersey. Johnson attended Highlands Elementary School there (part of the Highlands School District) and Henry Hudson Regional High School, graduating in the mid 1980s.
Career
In late 2009 Johnson began the podcast Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! with his friends Walt Flanagan and Brian "Q" Quinn.
Johnson has discussed his life and work with Kevin Smith in detail in various SmodCo podcasts, including 'Highlands, a Peephole History,' 'Why Bry?' with Kevin Smith, and 'Tell 'Em Steve-Dave,' the podcast he has hosted since Johnson created it in 2009.
On February 12, 2012, the reality television series Comic Book Men premiered, which stars both Johnson and Flanagan.