Biography
Who is Ray William Johnson?
Early life and education
Ray William Johnson was born in Oklahoma City on August 14, 1981. His parents separated when he was a child. At age 13, he ran away from home to live with his father for several months. Ray has described his father as an alcoholic and physically abusive individual. He also claimed that his father accessed his college savings account. Ray remained estranged from his father until his death in 2014.
He attended Norman North High School and graduated in 1999. Following high school, Ray enrolled at the Columbia University School of General Studies. He focused his academic work on history but did not complete his degree.
Rise to fame with Equals Three
Ray William Johnson began uploading videos to his YouTube channel in April 2009. His web series Equals Three quickly gained popularity. In 2011, the channel became the first on the platform to reach five million subscribers. Ray originally filmed his content in his New York City apartment. In 2011, he signed a deal with Maker Studios to film in Culver City, California.
In 2012, Ray left Maker Studios due to a contract dispute. He contended that the company limited his access to AdSense earnings and demanded 50 percent of his intellectual property rights. Following this, he founded his own company, Equals Three Studios. He continued to host the series until March 2014. At the time of his departure, the channel had surpassed 10 million subscribers and 2.6 billion total views. The series continued after he left, featuring other hosts such as Robby Motz, Kaja Martin, and Carlos Santos.
Creative projects and music
Beyond his main web series, Ray William Johnson branched into other digital media. In 2013, he debuted his scripted series Riley Rewind on Facebook. That same year, he developed a television concept for FX Networks, which received a script commitment. He also founded a production company called Mom and Pop Empire with former collaborator Kaja Martin. This company co-produced the film Manson Family Vacation, which premiered at South by Southwest in 2015.
Ray is a member of the internet cartoon band Your Favorite Martian. He provided vocals for the character Puff Puff. The band began releasing music in 2011 and produced 60 songs. After a hiatus, the band resumed activity in 2024 with the song Real Girl. Ray has also appeared in various acting roles, including the 2016 film Who is Driving Doug.
Personal life and recent work
Ray William Johnson married Kelly Farrell in May 2022 after dating for six years. He has been open about his struggles with depression and has publicly discussed his path toward self-improvement. Ray underwent surgery for a deviated septum in 2024. He has also confirmed that he has no children due to a vasectomy.
In 2020, Ray returned to YouTube with a new series called Svperhvman. He has since shifted his primary focus to creating true crime content. He shares this short-form material on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
Birthday and age
Ray William Johnson was born on August 14, 1981, which makes Ray 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Ray shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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