Bill Saluga
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Born Name:
William Saluga
Born Date: September 16, 1937
Born Place: Youngstown, Ohio
Died Date: March 28, 2023
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Comedian, character actor
Brief Biography: Bill Saluga was best known for creating the popular 1970s persona Raymond J. Johnson Jr.. Dressed in a zoot suit and wide-brimmed fedora while waving a cigar, Saluga achieved pop-culture stardom with his rapid-fire catchphrase routine: "You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay... but you doesn't has ta call me Johnson!". He was also a founding member of the influential improvisational comedy troupe Ace Trucking Company.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Early Work: Before performing, he worked as a doorman at the famed New York City nightclub The Bitter End.
Ace Trucking Company: He transitioned to the stage by co-founding this innovative 1960s and '70s improv group alongside Fred Willard, Patti Deutsch, Michael Mislove, and George Memmoli.
Rise to Fame: The troupe found widespread success, opening for Tom Jones in Las Vegas and appearing frequently on television variety specials.
The "Raymond J. Johnson Jr." Phenomenon:
The Routine: Saluga developed the Raymond J. Johnson Jr. character during his time with the Ace Trucking Company. Whenever someone addressed him as "Mr. Johnson," he would feign outrage and launch into a long, rambling list of alternative names (such as Ray, Jay, Johnny, Sonny, or R.J.).
Commercial Success: In the late 1970s, the character crossed over into mainstream commercial success, starring in highly visible beer ad campaigns for Miller Lite and Anheuser-Busch's Natural Light.
Cultural Impact: At the peak of his fame in 1979, his catchphrase was everywhere. He even recorded a novelty disco track called "Dancin' Johnson" and was famously referenced by Bob Dylan in the opening lines of his Grammy-winning song "Gotta Serve Somebody".
Later Television Work and Animation:
After the initial craze subsided, Saluga maintained a steady career for decades as a versatile character actor and guest star:
Seinfeld: Played a hostile, cigarette-smoking ticket taker at the opera house in the 1992 episode "The Opera".
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Guest-starred in three 2005 episodes as Louis Lewis, the fictional uncle of comedian Richard Lewis.
Voice Acting: Reprised animated parodies of his famous "Ray J." persona on The Simpsons (2002) and King of the Hill (2010).
Other Guest Spots: Appeared on shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Redd Foxx Show, Murphy Brown, Home Improvement, and Mad About You.
Born Date: September 16, 1937
Born Place: Youngstown, Ohio
Died Date: March 28, 2023
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Comedian, character actor
Brief Biography: Bill Saluga was best known for creating the popular 1970s persona Raymond J. Johnson Jr.. Dressed in a zoot suit and wide-brimmed fedora while waving a cigar, Saluga achieved pop-culture stardom with his rapid-fire catchphrase routine: "You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay... but you doesn't has ta call me Johnson!". He was also a founding member of the influential improvisational comedy troupe Ace Trucking Company.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Early Work: Before performing, he worked as a doorman at the famed New York City nightclub The Bitter End.
Ace Trucking Company: He transitioned to the stage by co-founding this innovative 1960s and '70s improv group alongside Fred Willard, Patti Deutsch, Michael Mislove, and George Memmoli.
Rise to Fame: The troupe found widespread success, opening for Tom Jones in Las Vegas and appearing frequently on television variety specials.
The "Raymond J. Johnson Jr." Phenomenon:
The Routine: Saluga developed the Raymond J. Johnson Jr. character during his time with the Ace Trucking Company. Whenever someone addressed him as "Mr. Johnson," he would feign outrage and launch into a long, rambling list of alternative names (such as Ray, Jay, Johnny, Sonny, or R.J.).
Commercial Success: In the late 1970s, the character crossed over into mainstream commercial success, starring in highly visible beer ad campaigns for Miller Lite and Anheuser-Busch's Natural Light.
Cultural Impact: At the peak of his fame in 1979, his catchphrase was everywhere. He even recorded a novelty disco track called "Dancin' Johnson" and was famously referenced by Bob Dylan in the opening lines of his Grammy-winning song "Gotta Serve Somebody".
Later Television Work and Animation:
After the initial craze subsided, Saluga maintained a steady career for decades as a versatile character actor and guest star:
Seinfeld: Played a hostile, cigarette-smoking ticket taker at the opera house in the 1992 episode "The Opera".
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Guest-starred in three 2005 episodes as Louis Lewis, the fictional uncle of comedian Richard Lewis.
Voice Acting: Reprised animated parodies of his famous "Ray J." persona on The Simpsons (2002) and King of the Hill (2010).
Other Guest Spots: Appeared on shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Redd Foxx Show, Murphy Brown, Home Improvement, and Mad About You.