After securing the gold medal in the 1960 Olympic decathlon with a record total of 8,392 points, Rafer Johnson transitioned from elite athletics to a multifaceted career in acting, public service, and broadcasting. His life spanned roles from a collegiate basketball player at UCLA to a pivotal figure in the establishment of the California Special Olympics.
Athletic Beginnings and Collegiate Success
Born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1934, Johnson moved to Kingsburg, California, at age nine. He excelled at Kingsburg High School, participating in soccer, baseball, and basketball. After observing decathlete Bob Mathias in 1952, Johnson quickly dominated local events. Enrolling at UCLA, he broke the world record in the decathlon during his fourth competition. He also served as a starter for the UCLA Bruins basketball team under John Wooden during the 1958–59 season.
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Johnson entered international competition with a victory at the 1955 Pan American Games. Despite injuries hampering his performance at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, he secured a silver medal. His crowning achievement arrived in Rome during the 1960 Summer Olympics. In a high-stakes duel against his friend and training partner C.K. Yang, Johnson finished the 1500 meters to win the decathlon. This victory marked the final athletic event of his competitive career.
Public Service and The California Special Olympics
Following his retirement from sports, Johnson committed to civic work. He served on the organizing committee for the first Special Olympics in 1968 and founded the California Special Olympics in 1969. Starting with a competition for 900 individuals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, he expanded the program's fundraising and organizational capacity. He eventually served as the president of the board and later as the chairman of the Board of Governors.
Film and Public Life
Johnson navigated an acting career that included roles in The Sins of Rachel Cade, Wild in the Country, and the James Bond film Licence to Kill. In 1968, he became involved in the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy. Following the assassination of Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel, Johnson helped apprehend Sirhan Sirhan. He later chronicled these experiences in his 1999 autobiography, The Best That I Can Be.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Hillsboro, Texas
- Died: 2020, Sherman Oaks, California
- Olympic Gold: 1960 Decathlon
- Education: University of California, Los Angeles
- Awards: Theodore Roosevelt Award (1994)
- Acting Credits: Wild in the Country, Licence to Kill
- 1968 Event: Apprehended Sirhan Sirhan
Questions readers ask
Did Rafer Johnson play professional football?
Although the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the 1959 NFL draft, he never played in the league.
What was his role in the Special Olympics?
He co-founded the California Special Olympics in 1969 and served as the president of its board of directors.
Achievements
- California Hall of Fame — 2009
- Represented UCLA Bruins men's basketball
- Competed at athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – men's decathlon and athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Discipline: athletics and basketball
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