Miguel Woody Johnson

Miguel Woody Johnson, 33, left us unexpectedly on May 7, 2024. Miguel, born in Austin on December 2, 1990, was the beloved first child to his mother, Monin Pena, and father, Michael Johnson. He is survived by his parents, younger sister, Sonalie Barr, and relatives across the United States and Caribbean. A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held in his honor on Saturday, June 1^st, 2024, in his hometown of Austin, TX.

From an early age, Miguel's remarkable intelligence, creativity, kindness, humor, and love were evident to everyone around him. He possessed a unique vibrancy and light that could only be truly appreciated by those who knew him. His creativity was particularly apparent in his passion for reading, writing, music, and movies. At just ten years old, he directed short films featuring himself, his sister, and their neighborhood friends, creating magical memories for all involved.

When high school arrived, Miguel attended the McCallum Fine Arts Academy, where he immersed himself in theatre and film. Continuing to embrace his creative spirit, Miguel pursued his bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television, and Film at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in December 2014. After participating in the UTLA program, Miguel boldly moved across the country to Hollywood to chase his dreams. Once there, he discovered his aptitude for the business side of filmmaking, honing new skills in marketing, sales, contract negotiation, and film distribution. He successfully worked as an Acquisitions Manager, Marketing Manager, and Producer’s Rep ensuring that filmmakers reached their audiences. Miguel was brilliant. Those who studied and worked alongside him had the privilege of witnessing his ability to learn absolutely anything (except about rocks – college geology, we’re looking at you).

While living in Los Angeles, Miguel embraced his identity as a gay man and found a sense of belonging and joy within the LGBT+ community. He captained his kickball team, never missed LA Pride, attended numerous bucket-list music festivals, enjoyed drag brunches, and travelled the world with friends.

Hardships are an intrinsic part of every journey, and Miguel’s personal struggles allowed him to recognize and hold space for the suffering of others. He possessed a remarkable ability to make people feel seen, loved, and supported, even in brief encounters. His special brand of acceptance, warmth, and light allowed him to form deep connections throughout all phases of his life.

In 2019, Miguel moved back to Texas to be closer to family and continued working in film as a remote producer’s rep and film distributor. Miguel shared many special moments with his family and friends, taking ski trips to Utah, reigniting his love for yoga and wellness, and finding new community through Buddhism.

Though we can no longer see Miguel’s smile or hear his laugh, his spirit and light will live on forever in our memories. May we each cherish the moments we shared with him and keep his legacy alive through acts of love, compassion, and good humor.

To honor Miguel's memory in a special way, his family is hosting a memorial service at a private venue in Austin with limited capacity. They encourage you to share your memories, thoughts, and any photos or videos you have of Miguel by emailing them to [email protected]. To send flowers, please email the same address to coordinate delivery. Flowers will be displayed in Miguel’s honor at his Celebration of Life.