Johnny Cash
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. John R. "Johnny" Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music artist, his songs and sound spanned many other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—as well as blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal led to Cash being inducted in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Late in his career, Cash covered songs by several rock artists, among them the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails and he covered the synthpop band Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus. Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice; for the "boom-chicka-boom" freight train sound of his Tennessee Three backing band; for his rebelliousness, coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor; for providing free concerts inside prison walls; and for his dark performance clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". He traditionally started his concerts by saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." and usually following it up with his standard "Folsom Prison Blues." Much of Cash's music, especially that of his later career, echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption. His signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm" and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers, including "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue"; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called "Jackson"; as well as railroad songs including "Hey, Porter" and "Rock Island Line". Cash, a devout but troubled Christian, has been characterized as a "lens through which to view American contradictions and challenges." A Biblical scholar, he penned a Christian novel titled Man in White, and he made a spoken word recording of the entire New King James Version of the New Testament. Even so, Cash declared that he was "the biggest sinner of them all", and viewed himself overall as a complicated and contradictory man. Accordingly, Cash is said to have "contained multitudes", and has been deemed "the philosopher-prince of American country music". Description above from the Wikipedia article Johnny Cash, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Simpsons
1989
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
Saturday Night Live
1975
Saturday Night Live
1975
Columbo
1971
Late Night with David Letterman
1982
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
Wagon Train
1957
Little House on the Prairie
1974
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
Wogan
1982
Filmography
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self · 1962
The Simpsons
as Space Coyote (voice) · 1989
Late Show with David Letterman
as Self - Musical Guest · 1993
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host · 1975
Saturday Night Live
as Self (uncredited) · 1975
Columbo
as Tommy Brown · 1971
Late Night with David Letterman
as Self - Musical Guest · 1982
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self · 1962
Wagon Train
as Frank Hoag · 1957
Little House on the Prairie
as Caleb Hodgekiss · 1974
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
as Kid Cole · 1993
Wogan
as Self · 1982
Later... with Jools Holland
· 1992
Renegade
· 1992
Die Drehscheibe
as Self · 1964
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self · 1948
Finding Your Roots
as Self (archive footage) · 2012
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self · 1956
The Flip Wilson Show
as Self · 1970
The Partridge Family
as Variety Show Host (uncredited) · 1970
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as Self · 1968
North and South
as John Brown · 1985
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self · 1978
The Rebel
as Pratt · 1959
The Muppet Show
as Self - Special Guest Star · 1976
The Deputy
as Bo Braddock · 1959
Classic Albums
as Self (archive footage) · 1997
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
as Self · 1969
The Dick Clark Show
as Self · 1958
Shindig!
as Self - Singer · 1964
The George Gobel Show
as Self · 1954
The Bell Telephone Hour
as Self · 1959
Musikladen
as Self · 1972
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Self · 1954
Legends
as Self (archive footage) · 2006
The Johnny Cash Show
as Self - Host · 1969
CMA Awards
as Self · 1967
Tony Orlando and Dawn
as Self · 1974
The Jim Nabors Hour
· 1969
VH1 Storytellers
as Self · 2005
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
as Self · 1980
This Is Pop
as Self (archive footage) · 2021
The Seventies
as Self (archive footage) · 2015
The Hunted
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · 2003
Drei mal neun
as Self · 1970
E! True Hollywood Story
as Self · 1996
Song by Song
as Self (archive footage) · 2012
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
as Self · 1993
The Night Rider
as Johnny Laredo · 1962
Command Performance: The Stars Salute the President
as Self · 1981
50 Years of Country Music
as Self · 1978
Stagecoach
as Marshal Curly Wilcox · 1986
A Gunfight
as Abe Cross · 1971
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
as Self (archive footage) · 2020
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
as Self (archive footage) · 2005
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
as Self (archive footage) · 2019
Bill Moyers: Amazing Grace
as Self · 1990
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
as Self (archive footage) · 2021
Hits That Missed at the BBC
as Self (archive footage) · 2024
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
as Self (archive Footage) · 2006
The Universe
as Self (archive footage) · 2023
My Darling Vivian
as Self (archive footage) · 2020
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
as Frank James · 1986
Boy Meets Girls
· 1959
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
as Self · 1993
Five Minutes to Live
as Johnny Cabot · 1961
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
as Self · 1999
Bob Dylan: Odds and Ends
as Self (archive footage) · 2021
Murder in Coweta County
as Lamar Potts · 1983
Thaddeus Rose and Eddie
as Thaddeus Rose · 1978
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
as Self · 1990
The Pride of Jesse Hallam
as Jesse Hallam · 1981
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
as Self (archive footage) · 2015
A Tribute to Johnny Cash
as Self · 1999
Music Videos That Defined the 00’s
as Self (archive footage) · 2019
Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon
as Self (archive footage) · 2022
The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash
as Self (archive footage) · 2019
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
as Self (archive footage) · 2025
Opry Video Classics: Duets
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
Time Life Presents Country Legends Live, Vol. 4
as Self · 2005
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
as Self · 2003
Johnny Cash and the Country Girls
as Self · 1981
The Grammys
as Self · 1959
America's Sweethearts: Queens Of Nashville
as Self (archive footage) · 2014
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
as Self · 2016
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
as Self - Special Guest Star · 2001
Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
as Self · 2007
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as Johnny Cash · 1970
I Am Johnny Cash
as Self (archive footage) · 2015
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Country Songs
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
as Self · 1978
Highway 99: A Double Album
as Self [Archival] · 2025
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
as Self (archive footage) · 2015
Country at the BBC
as Self (archive footage) · 2011
Eat the Document
as Self · 1972
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
Tennessee Nights
· 1989
Opry Video Classics : Legends
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
· 2002
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
as Self (archive footage) · 2012
We're Still Here: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited
as Self (archive footage) · 2015
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
The Baron and the Kid
as The Baron · 1984
Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records
as Self (archive footage) · 2001
The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show 1969-1971
as Self · 2007
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American
as Self (archive footage) · 2004
Country Kings at the BBC
· 2014
The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan: Live at the Newport Folk Festival
as Self · 2007
Jerry Lee Lewis: I Am What I Am
· 1987
ReMastered: Tricky Dick & The Man in Black
as Self (archive footage) · 2018
Johnny Cash: Live at Montreux 1994
as Self · 2005
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
as Self (archive footage) · 2005
Tammy Wynette: Legendary Performances
as himself · 2008
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls
as Self · 1978
Davy Crockett: Rainbow in the Thunder
as Elder Davy Crockett · 1988
Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music
as Self · 1969
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
as Self · 1993
Johnny Cash - Live in Las Vegas 1979
as Self - Vocals · 1979
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1977
as Self · 1977
Johnny Cash at San Quentin
as Self · 1969
Time-Life: Country Legends Live, Vol. 7
as Self · 2005
Johnny Cash's America
as Self (archive footage) · 2008
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1978
as Self · 1978
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1979
as Self · 1979
Johnny Cash - Live In Ireland
as Self · 2006
The World's Greatest Gigs
as Self (archive footage) · 2005
The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
Hee Haw 10th Anniversary Celebration
as Self · 1978
Road to Nashville
as Self · 1966
Newport and the Great Folk Dream
as Self (archive footage) · 2025
Country Anthology Classics Volume 2
as (archive footage) · 2004
Crusade: The Life of Billy Graham
as Self · 1993
Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus
as Self · 1973
Johnny Cash: Live from Austin, TX
as Self · 2005
Johnny Cash: Christmas in Scotland
as Self · 1981
Hootenanny Hoot!
as Self · 1963
George Jones: Same Ole Me
as Self · 1989
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
as Self · 2007
My Father And The Man In Black
as Self (archive footage) · 2013
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black in Britain
as Self (archive footage) · 2020
Shakespeare Was a Big George Jones Fan: 'Cowboy' Jack Clement's Home Movies
as Self (archive footage) · 2013
Jerry Lee Lewis 25th anniversary concert
as Self · 1982
Johnny Cash - A Night to Remember 1973
as Self · 2020
June
as Self (archive footage) · 2023
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976
as Self · 1976
The Winding Stream
as Self (archive footage) · 2014
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
as Self (archive footage) · 2006
George Jones: With a Little Help from His Friends
as Self · 1981
Roy Orbison Forever
as Self (archive footage) · 2022
Johnny Cash: Live From Austin TX
as Self · 2005
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
as Self - Performer · 2016
Big Sur Choo Choo
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage) · 2020
Johnny Cash in Copenhagen
as Self · 1971
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison
as Self · 2008
Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash: The Road Show
as Self (archive footage) · 2006
Johnny Cash In Ireland - 1993
as Self · 2006
Johnny Cash: Half Mile a Day
as Self · 2000
Opry Video Classics: Honky-Tonk Heroes
as Self (archive footage) · 2007
All-Star Salute to Ralph Emery
as Self - Host · 1990
Adrift at Sea
as McLoughlin · 1983
Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line (DVD)
as Self (archive footage) · 2009
Festival
as Self · 1967
Bob Dylan and The Band: 1969-1970 Compilation
as Self · 2006
Johnny Cash: Live in Prague
as Self
Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
· 2004
Lost Concerts Series: Presley & Cash: The Road Show
as Self (archive footage) · 2008
Johnny Cash: The Anthology
· 2000
Johnny Cash: Long Black Veil
as Self · 2009
All My Friends Are Cowboys
as Johnny · 1998
Johnny Cash - Manhattan Center
as Self - Vocals, Guitars · 1994
Johnny Cash Christmas 1983
as Self · 1983
Someone Cry for the Children: The Girl Scout Murders
as Narrator (voice) · 1993
Johnny Cash - Final Live Performance
as Self - Vocals · 2003
Johnny Cash: London 1981
· 1981
Unveiled: Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2025
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black - His Early Years
as Self · 2005
Johnny Cash: Music in Review
as Self · 2007
Johnny Cash Greatest Hits
as Self · 2001
Johnny Cash: Ridin' the Rails
as Self · 2005
Johnny Cash Live Remember Me The Man In Black
as Self · 2005
Johnny Cash at 'Town Hall Party'
· 2006
Johnny Cash: The Line: Walking with a Legend
· 2008
The Man Comes Around: Johnny Cash in Ireland
· 2021
Country Nonstop – Von Johnny Cash bis Truck Stop
· 2019
Johnny Cash at Town Hall Party 1958-1959
· 2002
Johnny Cash - Live at Beat Club
as Self · 1972
Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1977
Johnny Cash Live at the Forum, Inglewood California 1986
as Self
Året var 1968
as Self (archive footage) · 2018
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
as Self · 2004
Johnny Cash: Singing at His Best
as Self · 2004
Cash for Kenya
as Self (archive footage) · 2008