Rebekka Johnson
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Born Name:
Rebekka Johnson
Born Date: November 2, 1979
Born Place: Staten Island, New York
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actress, comedian, producer, director, singer, composer
Brief Biography: Rebekka Johnson is best known for her standout performance as Dawn Rivecca in the Netflix wrestling comedy series GLOW. Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, she has established herself as a versatile comedic force across television, independent film, and live sketch comedy.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Johnson discovered her passion for performing through church plays, selecting larger musical and character roles over smaller community theater parts. She later honed her comedic skills through live performance, spending more than a decade executing sketch and improv across the United States. One of her earliest prominent television exposure points came on the MTV prank reality show Boiling Points. She was also an early pioneer in experimental digital comedy, performing in The Neutrino Video Projects, which was selected for the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen.
The Apple Sisters and Stage Comedy:
In 2007, Johnson co-created the award-winning musical comedy group The Apple Sisters alongside Sarah Lowe and her future GLOW co-star Kimmy Gatewood. Performing under her stage name "Candy Apple," Johnson helped craft a 1940s-style radio show parody featuring live three-part harmony, physical slapstick, and comedic routines. The group toured extensively, earning a spot at the 2008 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and maintaining a long-running theater presence.
Breakout with Netflix's GLOW:
Johnson achieved widespread recognition when she was cast as Dawn Rivecca in the critically acclaimed Netflix series GLOW (2017–2019). Alongside Gatewood, her character functioned as half of the tag teams known as the "Beatdown Biddies" and later the "Toxic Twins". The physically demanding role required extensive professional wrestling training, prompting Johnson to take up Pilates to navigate the intense choreography and physical stress of the show.
Direction, Writing, and Additional Projects:
Beyond acting, Johnson frequently works behind the camera as a filmmaker and creator. Her career includes a diverse set of creative credits:
Film & Television Acting: Appeared in feature films like Judd Apatow's This Is 40, Good on Paper, and television series such as Arrested Development and The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Voice Work: Provided voice-over talent for multiple characters on the Central animated show Ugly Americans.
Directing and Writing: Co-wrote and directed the independent short film Wild Bitch (2022) as well as the comedic feature film Step Aside. She also developed Bad Rabbit for Hulu's Bite Size Halloween anthology.
Advocacy & Mentorship:
Works as a teaching artist, volunteers at the youth non-profit My Friend's Place, and teaches comedy at The Lyric Hyperion in Los Angeles.
Born Date: November 2, 1979
Born Place: Staten Island, New York
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actress, comedian, producer, director, singer, composer
Brief Biography: Rebekka Johnson is best known for her standout performance as Dawn Rivecca in the Netflix wrestling comedy series GLOW. Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, she has established herself as a versatile comedic force across television, independent film, and live sketch comedy.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Johnson discovered her passion for performing through church plays, selecting larger musical and character roles over smaller community theater parts. She later honed her comedic skills through live performance, spending more than a decade executing sketch and improv across the United States. One of her earliest prominent television exposure points came on the MTV prank reality show Boiling Points. She was also an early pioneer in experimental digital comedy, performing in The Neutrino Video Projects, which was selected for the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen.
The Apple Sisters and Stage Comedy:
In 2007, Johnson co-created the award-winning musical comedy group The Apple Sisters alongside Sarah Lowe and her future GLOW co-star Kimmy Gatewood. Performing under her stage name "Candy Apple," Johnson helped craft a 1940s-style radio show parody featuring live three-part harmony, physical slapstick, and comedic routines. The group toured extensively, earning a spot at the 2008 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and maintaining a long-running theater presence.
Breakout with Netflix's GLOW:
Johnson achieved widespread recognition when she was cast as Dawn Rivecca in the critically acclaimed Netflix series GLOW (2017–2019). Alongside Gatewood, her character functioned as half of the tag teams known as the "Beatdown Biddies" and later the "Toxic Twins". The physically demanding role required extensive professional wrestling training, prompting Johnson to take up Pilates to navigate the intense choreography and physical stress of the show.
Direction, Writing, and Additional Projects:
Beyond acting, Johnson frequently works behind the camera as a filmmaker and creator. Her career includes a diverse set of creative credits:
Film & Television Acting: Appeared in feature films like Judd Apatow's This Is 40, Good on Paper, and television series such as Arrested Development and The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Voice Work: Provided voice-over talent for multiple characters on the Central animated show Ugly Americans.
Directing and Writing: Co-wrote and directed the independent short film Wild Bitch (2022) as well as the comedic feature film Step Aside. She also developed Bad Rabbit for Hulu's Bite Size Halloween anthology.
Advocacy & Mentorship:
Works as a teaching artist, volunteers at the youth non-profit My Friend's Place, and teaches comedy at The Lyric Hyperion in Los Angeles.