You know the face. Even if you don't know the name Anthony Johnson, you know Ezal. He’s the guy in the 1995 classic Friday sliding across a wet floor, clutching his back, and shouting about a $150,000 settlement—only to settle for twenty bucks and some "Cheetos and a lip" right then and there.
A.J. Johnson was one of those rare performers who could take three minutes of screen time and turn it into a decades-long legacy. But behind the "My neck, my back!" memes and the high-pitched cackle was a life that started in Compton and ended far too soon in a Los Angeles store. Honestly, his story is a mix of high-stakes hip-hop beefs, missed opportunities, and a final chapter that his family hopes will actually save lives.
The Comedian A.J. Johnson and the Role That Defined Him
Anthony "A.J." Johnson wasn't just some guy they found on the street for Friday. He was a seasoned stand-up who came up through the brutal proving grounds of Los Angeles comedy clubs in the late 80s and early 90s. He had a specific kind of kinetic energy. He didn't just tell jokes; he used his whole body.
His big break actually came five years before Friday in the 1990 hit House Party. He played E.Z.E., and while he wasn't the lead, he stole every scene he was in. That's kind of how his whole career went. He was the "vibe" guy. If you needed someone to bring immediate, chaotic energy to a set, you called A.J.
Then came Ezal.
It's funny because Ice Cube and DJ Pooh wrote that character to be a nuisance, a neighborhood crackhead who was more annoying than threatening. Johnson turned him into a legend. Most of those lines were improvised or tweaked by his own frantic delivery. He made being a "petty thief" look like a profession.
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
Why wasn't he in the sequels?
This is the question fans always ask. Why was Ezal missing from Next Friday and Friday After Next?
The truth is a bit more complicated than just "scheduling conflicts." In later interviews, Johnson was pretty candid about it. He felt he deserved more money after the first movie became a massive cult hit. It’s a common story in 90s Black cinema—actors being paid a flat fee (often around $5,000 for the first Friday) and then seeing the movie make millions. When the sequels came around, the negotiations didn't go his way. While Mike Epps eventually filled the "chaotic sidekick" void as Day-Day, there was always a hole where Ezal should have been.
Caught in the Middle of Death Row vs. Ruthless
One of the wildest things about the A.J. Johnson comedian story is how he accidentally became a pawn in the biggest rap war of all time.
In 1992, Dr. Dre released the "Dre Day" music video. He needed someone to play "Sleazy-E," a parody of his former partner Eazy-E. Johnson got the gig. He nailed it. He was hilarious, wearing the signature locs and the Compton hat, acting like a bumbling, greedy caricature.
But then Eazy-E called.
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Eazy wanted Johnson to play the same character in his response video, "Real Muthaphuckkin G's," but this time, he'd be getting chased and beaten up. Johnson, being a comedian just trying to pay rent, said yes.
Then Suge Knight found out.
Johnson told a story in a 2018 interview with VladTV about being called into Suge’s office at Death Row Records. Suge reportedly put a gun on the table and told him he wasn't going to finish that Eazy-E video. When you’re a comedian caught between Dr. Dre and Eazy-E in the early 90s, you don't argue. He stopped filming.
A Legacy Beyond Ezal
If you only know him from Friday, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of 90s culture. He was everywhere.
- The Players Club: He played L’il Man, once again proving he could dominate a scene with just a few lines.
- B.A.P.S.: He starred alongside Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle.
- I Got the Hook Up: He was a staple in Master P’s No Limit films.
- Martin: He had guest spots that are still quoted today.
He also had a deep connection to the industry through his father, Eddie Smith. His dad was a legendary stuntman and one of the founders of the Black Stuntmen's Association. A.J. basically grew up on sets. He saw the transition from the old-school Hollywood era to the new wave of 90s Black comedy.
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
What Really Happened in 2021?
On September 6, 2021, the news broke that Anthony Johnson had died at age 55. It felt sudden. He was found unresponsive in a store in Los Angeles and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
For months, people speculated about what happened. Was it COVID? Was it a heart attack?
In February 2022, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released the report. The cause of death was "chronic ethanol use." Basically, years of heavy drinking had taken a toll on his body that it couldn't recover from. His widow, Lexis Jones Mason, chose to be incredibly transparent about this. She didn't want to hide the cause; she wanted to warn others.
She's been vocal about how the "party" lifestyle in the entertainment industry can be a trap. She even started a foundation to help young people understand the dangers of alcohol abuse. It’s a heavy ending for a man who spent his life making people double over with laughter, but it’s the truth.
Actionable Insights and Moving Forward
A.J. Johnson’s career is a masterclass in making the most of a small opportunity. He wasn't the leading man, but he's the one people remember thirty years later.
If you want to honor his legacy or learn more, here is what you should do:
- Watch the "Dre Day" and "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" videos back-to-back. You’ll see the subtle comedic acting that made him a favorite of both Dr. Dre and Eazy-E.
- Support the Anthony Johnson Foundation. His widow's work in alcohol awareness is the most tangible part of his legacy left today.
- Check out his stand-up on Def Comedy Jam. If you’ve only seen his movie roles, his raw stand-up shows you where that frantic Ezal energy actually started.
- Revisit "House Party." Everyone goes to Friday first, but his performance as E.Z.E. is arguably just as good and shows his range before he became a household face.
He was a guy from Compton who used his wit to navigate some of the most dangerous and competitive eras of entertainment. A.J. Johnson might be gone, but as long as someone is shouting about their "neck and their back" to get out of a shift at work, he’s still around.