Jay Kenneth Johnson was born in Springfield, Missouri to Janice Johnson and Ken Johnson. Johnson attended Kickapoo High School, graduating in 1995 (the same high school as another Springfield resident - Brad Pitt). He landed his first small role on the Young and the Restless just a few months after dropping out of Southwest Missouri State University and moving to California. Just weeks later Johnson was given his part as Philip Kiriakis on the longtime daytime series Days of Our Lives. Johnson enjoys singing and formed a band in Springfield.


Attended Missouri State University. So beloved by his "Days of Our Lives" (1965) fans that, when he left the show, they hired a plane to fly over the NBC studios carrying a banner wishing him good luck. Is a fan of vocalists Lenny Kravitz , Anthony Kiedis , Jim Morrison and Robert Plant .