Paul Johansson is an award-winning actor, writer and director best known for starring as the villainous Dan Scott on the CW’s “One Tree Hill” from 2003 to 2012.
Born in Spokane, Washington and raised in Vancouver, Johansson first pursued an athletic career in basketball at the University of British Columbia. After being named the All-Canadian Basketball Player in 1987, Johansson decided to give up his pro basketball dream when a talent scout approached him and encouraged him to move to Los Angeles. Soon, he was starring on the hit soap opera “Santa Barbara” as Greg Hughes. His proven talent on screen soon led to other roles, including his starring turn on the short-lived Fox sitcom “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” a recurring role as fraternity bully John Sears in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” a starring role in the Wild West series “Lonesome Dove” and co-starring role opposite Elizabeth Gracen in “Highlander: The Raven.” Johansson has also guest starred on several hit TV series, including “7th Heaven,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “CSI,” to name a few.
In film, Johansson has appeared in “Soapdish,” “John Q,” “Alpha Dog” and “The Notebook,” as well as many made-for-TV movies. A writer with a degree in English Literature, Johansson has enjoyed time behind the camera as well. In 2003, Johansson wrote, directed and produced the film “The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie” starring Gena Rowlands, Kevin Zegers and James Caan. The film garnered him a Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special, and an additional nomination for Outstanding Writing in the same category. Johansson also directed over a dozen episodes of “One Tree Hill” and the 2011 movie “Atlas Shrugged: Part 1,” based on the novel by Ayn Rand.
Most recently, Johansson guest starred in the final season of AMC’s hit drama, “Mad Men.”
