Mallori Johnson Biography

Mallori Johnson is an American actress best known for playing Dana James on FX's Kindred (2022), the television adaptation of Octavia E. Butler's acclaimed novel. She has since appeared in the romantic comedy The Other Zoey (2023), starred in the historical drama Steal Away (2026), appears in the Netflix series Vladimir (2026) and the feature film Is God Is (2026).

Born and raised in San Diego, Mallori discovered her passion for acting at a young age and attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts before studying at the California Institute of the Arts. She later transferred to the Juilliard School in New York, graduating in 2021 before landing her breakout role in Kindred.

Outside of acting, Mallori has a deep appreciation for theater and literature. She has often credited her mother with fostering her love of the arts from an early age by introducing her to books, classic films and plays. Among the writers who have had the biggest impact on her is Octavia E. Butler, making her casting in Kindred especially meaningful. Johnson has also cited Sally Field as one of her acting inspirations, praising her ability to bring honesty and vulnerability to every performance.

Filmography:

Steal Away (2026)
Is God Is (2026)
Vladimir (2026)
The Other Zoey (2023)
Kindred (2022)