Van Johnson's Height
6ft 1 (185.4 cm)
American actor best remembered for roles in films like The Caine Mutiny, Between Two Women, Battleground and Brigadoon. In a 1991 Hollywood Songstress book, the author mentioned when describing June Allyson as 5ft 1, Van was "6ft 2".
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Average Guess (18 Votes)
6ft 0.71in (184.7cm)
6ft 0.71in (184.7cm)
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 2/Sep/16
"Van Johnson's Height: 6ft 1¼in (186.055cm)"
I think he was in Errol Flynn territory (i.e. 6ft1-1½). Could look 6ft2 at times, other times 6ft1 flat
"Van Johnson's Height: 6ft 1¼in (186.055cm)"
I think he was in Errol Flynn territory (i.e. 6ft1-1½). Could look 6ft2 at times, other times 6ft1 flat
Vincent said on 2/Jul/16
I met Van Johnson in the 80,s was working at the post office on 55st and 3rd ave and he lived on that block use to see him on sat mornings when he used to come to the post office
I met Van Johnson in the 80,s was working at the post office on 55st and 3rd ave and he lived on that block use to see him on sat mornings when he used to come to the post office
James said on 25/Mar/16
Moore was from a working class background Arch. He probably looked older because he was a very heavy smoker.
Moore was from a working class background Arch. He probably looked older because he was a very heavy smoker.
richinkle said on 2/Dec/15
In this video dancing with Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy", Ball has about a 2" heel advantage, but looks a mere 3" to 3 1/2" taller.
If Van Johnson was anywhere over 6'-1/2", Lucille ball was at least 5'-7".
Click Here
In this video dancing with Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy", Ball has about a 2" heel advantage, but looks a mere 3" to 3 1/2" taller.
If Van Johnson was anywhere over 6'-1/2", Lucille ball was at least 5'-7".
Click Here
Arch Stanton said on 14/Feb/15
6'2 was pretty impossible with Fred MacMurray in the Caine Mutiny. I see him as similar sort of height to peak Reagan.
6'2 was pretty impossible with Fred MacMurray in the Caine Mutiny. I see him as similar sort of height to peak Reagan.
Sam said on 3/Nov/14
Oi, didn't know Johnson already had a page. I could see him as a guy fraction shy of 6'1", around 6'0.75", who claims his shoed height of 6'2", like Jon Hamm.
Oi, didn't know Johnson already had a page. I could see him as a guy fraction shy of 6'1", around 6'0.75", who claims his shoed height of 6'2", like Jon Hamm.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 15/Oct/14
He was listed 6ft2 here originally if I'm not mistaken, Rob?
Editor Rob
He was listed 6ft2 here originally if I'm not mistaken, Rob?
Editor Rob at the start yes
Arch Stanton said on 26/Jul/13
Yeah that's looks about right. He's a tall guy, just not a legit 6'2". Hard to believe Roger Moore was 24 in that film, he obviously looks younger and fresher faced than later on but he just seems older even at that age because he has so much class!
Yeah that's looks about right. He's a tall guy, just not a legit 6'2". Hard to believe Roger Moore was 24 in that film, he obviously looks younger and fresher faced than later on but he just seems older even at that age because he has so much class!
Arch Stanton said on 26/Jul/13
This is definitely too high Rob, he's about 2 inches shorter than Walter Pidgeon who looked a legit 6'2.5" guy. My observation of Johnson is a weak 6'1" guy 1.85m tops. The database also has him at 1.85 which looks accurate.
This is definitely too high Rob, he's about 2 inches shorter than Walter Pidgeon who looked a legit 6'2.5" guy. My observation of Johnson is a weak 6'1" guy 1.85m tops. The database also has him at 1.85 which looks accurate.
Arch Stanton said on 26/Jul/13
Rob pause at 1:28:26. Click Here Shorter than a young Roger Moore. No way was he 6'2". He seems more like a strong 6' in The Last Time I saw Paris.
Editor Rob
Rob pause at 1:28:26. Click Here Shorter than a young Roger Moore. No way was he 6'2". He seems more like a strong 6' in The Last Time I saw Paris.
Editor Rob maybe 6ft 1, but yeah Roger appears a bit taller.
Shadow2 said on 21/Dec/11
Rob, time for a long overdue correction here. If "1991 Hollywood Songstress" has become the reference for an actors listed height on this site, we have a problem. Van was 6'1", never 6'2", and some of us can quote a dozen movies that immediately prove this.
Rob, time for a long overdue correction here. If "1991 Hollywood Songstress" has become the reference for an actors listed height on this site, we have a problem. Van was 6'1", never 6'2", and some of us can quote a dozen movies that immediately prove this.
richinkle said on 8/May/11
Van Johnson looked to be about 6'-1" based on the attached youtube clip with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley from a 1954 I love Lucy episode. Click Here
5'-7 1/2" Ball, with a 2" heel advantage, comes up just above Van Johnson's brow - and appears no more than 4" shorter, closer to 3 1/2". (She appears to have the same height relation to Johnson as 5'-8" Lansbury does in scene from "State of the Union", 1948, and as seen in this still from the movie: Click Here)
Arnaz, who has about a 1" heel advantage, appears about 2 1/2-3" shorter than Johnson, making him about 5'-9" to 5'-9 1/2".
Van Johnson looked to be about 6'-1" based on the attached youtube clip with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley from a 1954 I love Lucy episode. Click Here
5'-7 1/2" Ball, with a 2" heel advantage, comes up just above Van Johnson's brow - and appears no more than 4" shorter, closer to 3 1/2". (She appears to have the same height relation to Johnson as 5'-8" Lansbury does in scene from "State of the Union", 1948, and as seen in this still from the movie: Click Here)
Arnaz, who has about a 1" heel advantage, appears about 2 1/2-3" shorter than Johnson, making him about 5'-9" to 5'-9 1/2".
Shadow2 said on 10/Nov/10
Van was a strong 6'1", not the 6'2" occasionally mentioned by MGM publicity in the 1940's. You only have to see him in 1950's era movies with 6'3" Fred MacMurray, 6'4" Howard Keel, 6'2" Barry Sullivan, and 6'1.5" Walter Pidgeon to compare. In the 1960's and 1970's Van did a lot of episodic TV with other tall actors, and he was never more than 6'1". Many later biographies correctly record this precise height for him. However on his TV guest roles Van had a noticeable tendency to stretch his frame whenever he greeted another cast member, similar to 5'11" Ricardo Montalban who had serious back problems. In Van's case this "stretching" accentuated his height. I saw Van once in his late 70's, and he was still close to 6' tall.
Van was a strong 6'1", not the 6'2" occasionally mentioned by MGM publicity in the 1940's. You only have to see him in 1950's era movies with 6'3" Fred MacMurray, 6'4" Howard Keel, 6'2" Barry Sullivan, and 6'1.5" Walter Pidgeon to compare. In the 1960's and 1970's Van did a lot of episodic TV with other tall actors, and he was never more than 6'1". Many later biographies correctly record this precise height for him. However on his TV guest roles Van had a noticeable tendency to stretch his frame whenever he greeted another cast member, similar to 5'11" Ricardo Montalban who had serious back problems. In Van's case this "stretching" accentuated his height. I saw Van once in his late 70's, and he was still close to 6' tall.
Marcelo C. said on 5/Oct/07
I guess 2" taller than Moore (I saw them together in a film, let anyone help me remember the name). 6´3" fits him.
I guess 2" taller than Moore (I saw them together in a film, let anyone help me remember the name). 6´3" fits him.
Mr.Venable said on 13/Mar/07
In the Caine Mutiny , he looked to me more than one inch shorter than Fred McMurray ( usually listed at 6'3 ) . But on the other hand he was noticeably taller than 6' Peter Cushing in the End of The Affair , so I agree he was probably 6'2 in his youth . This makes me think that McMurray was a bit over 6'3 . Maybe 6'3.5 ?
In the Caine Mutiny , he looked to me more than one inch shorter than Fred McMurray ( usually listed at 6'3 ) . But on the other hand he was noticeably taller than 6' Peter Cushing in the End of The Affair , so I agree he was probably 6'2 in his youth . This makes me think that McMurray was a bit over 6'3 . Maybe 6'3.5 ?
Jane Biggers said on 17/Sep/06
Van Johnson is 6'3" in height.
Van Johnson is 6'3" in height.
Gonzalo said on 1/Sep/06
Richinkle, I think the woman is Rita Hayworth. In Caine mutiny he looked as tall as McMurray but movies are not always reliable. I think he was 6´2 at the most.
Richinkle, I think the woman is Rita Hayworth. In Caine mutiny he looked as tall as McMurray but movies are not always reliable. I think he was 6´2 at the most.
Editor Rob said on 27/Apr/06
Another book on Van: "At the time Van was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 185 pounds"
Another book on Van: "At the time Van was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 185 pounds"
richinkle said on 6/Apr/06
The average sidewalk slopes at about 1/4" per foot, which might give MacMurray a 1" advantage. Who's the woman in the photo? 5'-8 1/2" Esther Williams, or 5'-6" Rita Hayworth?
The average sidewalk slopes at about 1/4" per foot, which might give MacMurray a 1" advantage. Who's the woman in the photo? 5'-8 1/2" Esther Williams, or 5'-6" Rita Hayworth?
Gramps said on 22/Mar/06
I've seen lots of photos on the web of Van Johnson looking quite tall - - perhaps 6'2". However, I also saw two photos where he looked no better than 6'1". One is an inconclusive shot with Frank Sinatra, but the other (below) is quite telling, with Van looking at least 2" shorter than the 6'3" Fred MacMurray. I must admit that I was surprized to see MacMurray listed everywhere at that height. I had always thought of him as at least 6'4".
Click Here
I've seen lots of photos on the web of Van Johnson looking quite tall - - perhaps 6'2". However, I also saw two photos where he looked no better than 6'1". One is an inconclusive shot with Frank Sinatra, but the other (below) is quite telling, with Van looking at least 2" shorter than the 6'3" Fred MacMurray. I must admit that I was surprized to see MacMurray listed everywhere at that height. I had always thought of him as at least 6'4".
Click Here
Frank2 said on 19/Mar/06
Van was 6'2" and is still quite tall for a man who turns 90 this fall. I'm almost positive that Gable wasn't 6'1" as advertised. I believe he was no more than 6' in his prime. I knew a fellow who was the assistant editor on Soldier of Fortune at Fox and he told me that Gable had shrunk to where he wasn't that much taller than he was and this guy was about 5'10". But Gable was the same height as 6' Gig Young in Teacher's Pet so I doubt he had shrunk that much by the fifties. Gig is also listed as being taller than he was. I've seen as much as 6'2" for him.
Van was 6'2" and is still quite tall for a man who turns 90 this fall. I'm almost positive that Gable wasn't 6'1" as advertised. I believe he was no more than 6' in his prime. I knew a fellow who was the assistant editor on Soldier of Fortune at Fox and he told me that Gable had shrunk to where he wasn't that much taller than he was and this guy was about 5'10". But Gable was the same height as 6' Gig Young in Teacher's Pet so I doubt he had shrunk that much by the fifties. Gig is also listed as being taller than he was. I've seen as much as 6'2" for him.
larry said on 18/Mar/06
Agree. Spencer Tracy looked 5'8" in everything I saw him in. So, was Van Johnson 6'2"? He looked perhaps a tad taller than Clark Gable in a war movie that I'm ashamed to say I have forgotten the name of. Or am I opening a can of worms? :-)
Agree. Spencer Tracy looked 5'8" in everything I saw him in. So, was Van Johnson 6'2"? He looked perhaps a tad taller than Clark Gable in a war movie that I'm ashamed to say I have forgotten the name of. Or am I opening a can of worms? :-)
Frank2 said on 18/Mar/06
That photo is quite revealing. It definitely proves that Tracy was shorter than advertised. I always pegged him to be around 5'8", not the 5'10-1/2" the studio claimed he was.
That photo is quite revealing. It definitely proves that Tracy was shorter than advertised. I always pegged him to be around 5'8", not the 5'10-1/2" the studio claimed he was.
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