Bio
Jay Kenneth Johnson, eldest son of Janice Johnson and Kenneth Johnson, was born on February 24 in Springfield, Missouri. While growing up in Springfield, Jay participated in many sports - football, track, etc. In addition to athletics, Jay's great passion was music. While attending Kickapoo High School, Jay auditioned for a music group called Solid Jones. Brought on board as lead singer, Jay and guitarist Bryan Powers co-wrote much of the group's material.

After high school graduation in 1995, band members slowly went their own ways. Jay attended Southwest Missouri State University for a time. Unable to quench his need to perform, Jay packed his belongings and drove to Los Angeles in early 1999. Within months, he landed a few parts, including a reoccurring role on the Young and the Restless. Just weeks later, Johnson auditioned for, and won, the part of rich teen Philip Kiriakis on the longtime daytime serial, Days of our Lives. When his three-year contract was up, Jay didn't renew - he wanted to branch out, take advantage of different opportunities. He filmed his last scenes on the Days set in November, 2002.

Making the audition rounds for the 2003-2004 pilot season, Jay won a prominent role in the Aaron Spelling pilot, Hotel. The following spring, after completing a guest stint on The O.C., Jay headed to Oahu, Hawaii for his first prime time series, FOX's North Shore. Jay played Chris Remsen, an activities guide who exposed hotel guests to the island's tropical beauty via hiking, rappelling, wave running, etc. At first a supporting character, Chris - through Jay's talent and popularity with viewers - developed into a lead with a front burner storyline.

When North Shore's run came to an end in early 2005, Jay returned to Los Angeles; he quickly landed guest appearances on CSI:NY, Charmed and CSI:Miami, plus a recurring guest role as Dr. Matthews on Scrubs. During the summer and fall of 2006, Days of our Lives asked Jay to return to the role he made his own: Philip Kiriakis. Excited by the prospects of playing a 'new' and different Philip, Jay returned to the show in January, 2007. Whether running a division of Titan, or facing a foe head on in a mounting shipping war, the 'new' Philip is quickly becoming a major force on the Salem scene, with Jay adding considerable depth and substance to his role.