While working odd-jobs to pay bills, he looked for auditions and enrolled at Pasadena's American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

[citation needed] By the time Johnson approached his mid-20s, he wanted to branch into more adult and challenging roles trying to stay clear of the teen genre.

In 2003 he returned to television in an unaired series, Still Life, and made appearances on What I Like About You, Nip/Tuck, and House while doing voice-over work for video games.

[citation needed] He is a series regular on Lone Star portraying Drew Thatcher, and also had a recurring role as Detective Darren Wilden on Pretty Little Liars.

He guest-starred in the Glee episode "Previously Unaired Christmas" in December 2013, playing Cody Tolentino.