Glen Powell‘s Hit Man is loosely based on the life of fake assassin Gary Johnson. The true story behind the film has garnered massive interest from fans, who now want to know whether the real Gary Johnson, on whom Powell’s character is based, is dead or alive.
So here’s everything you need to know about Gary Johnson.
Is the real Gary Johnson dead or alive?
The real Gary Johnson is dead.
He passed away in 2022, one year before he could see his story adapted into a movie. Before the credits roll in, a tribute reads, “Dedicated to Gary Johnson, 1947-2022”. As per Cosmopolitan, Glen Powell, in an interview with the UK branch of the publication, clarified that he had not spoken to Gary on purpose, prior to Hit Man’s filming but claimed that Johnson was fine with his story being turned into a film.
In his 2001 Texas Monthly article, Skip Hollandsworth said that the real-life Gary Johnson was impressive and called him “the Laurence Olivier of the field.” He also pointed out Johnson’s natural talent and affinity for performing on any stage and with any kind of script given to him.
Hollandsworth cited examples of Johnson successfully posing as a very “sleek” and “skilled” assassin who would not brush off a contract for less than six-figures if he got a job in Houston’s more exclusive residential area, and as a country boy who would subdue any person for how much ever money he could get if he had a job assigned by a working-class individual.
As per Texas Monthly, Hollandsworth’s positive assessment of Johnson was also shared by Houston lawyer Michael Hinton. Hinton, who had supervised Gary in the latter’s undercover work, called him “the perfect chameleon” and that he could tailor his disguises for any situation he found himself in.
