Johnny Duncan lived a long and fulfilling life, well into his nineties, surrounded by his loving wife Susan and the memories of a life well-lived, all within a stone's throw of where it all began. Born on a small farm near Kansas City in 1923, Johnny's childhood was marked by the challenges of the Great Depression, but he found solace in dance, performing in local towns and earning enough money to pay off his parents' overdue mortgage.
As a young man, Johnny's passion for dance led him to open a small dance school with his friend Lou, teaching the local kids the art of tap dancing. His big break came when an agent discovered him and offered him a $50-a-month contract to work in Los Angeles. He quickly found success, playing juvenile roles alongside the East Side Kids and Bowery Boys, and even landed a role in the classic film Action in the North Atlantic (1943),where he worked alongside Humphrey Bogart.
During World War II, Johnny met the legendary Lana Turner and taught her the Lindy Hop, also known as the Jitterbug. At the age of 26, he landed the role of the second Boy Wonder in the 15-part serial Batman and Robin.
When he wasn't working on set, Johnny could be found cruising the canyons around Calabasas on his Triumph 600 motorcycle, surrounded by his friends Lee Marvin, Larry Parks, Keenan Wynn, and Clark Gable. He was also a regular at dinner parties hosted by Jimmy Cagney.
In the 1950s, Johnny's film career slowed down slightly, but he still managed to appear in a few notable films, including The Caine Mutiny (1954) alongside Bogart, and a sailor-themed film with Rita Hayworth, whom he described as the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. He also made appearances in the infamous Ed Wood film Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) and the epic Spartacus (1960),where he met his untimely demise.
Today, Johnny can still be spotted at the occasional movie convention, signing photos and reminiscing about his time as the Boy Wonder in Batman and Robin and the East Side Kids.
