Some men have good looks while others are blessed with charm and wit. Then there are those that are all brains and some that are packed full with a sense of humor instead. But leave it to a major man to have all of those sought after qualities wrapped up into one dynamic personality.Such is the case for our Major Man of the Week, Ben Patrick Johnson. Author, Activist, Actor, Model, and Philanthropist, Ben has found a way to take all of his passions and turn them each into successful business endeavors. And it only takes one conversation with him to understand that its more about effecting change than stock piling money. Whether he's organizing people to vote against Prop. 8 in California or speaking out against human injustice on his web cast Life on the Left Coast, you always know that he truly puts his heart into everything he touches. See for yourself as we sat down with the man of the week right here, only on Essentially Major.
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Name: Ben Patrick Johnson
Age: 39
Occupation: Actor/Author/Activist
Background: I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. I’m the youngest child in a family of missionary schoolteachers. I grew up poor, frozen, and sometimes hungry, but there was always a roof over my head and I was well-fed with music and knowledge and there always seemed to be just enough money for us to take rambling summer trips across America.
How would you describe your personal style? I’d describe my style as global/eccentric. I try to think green and make choices that reflect a responsibility to my environment and community. But then I go and do things like bring home six pet tortoises or build a small TV studio in my guest bedroom. As far as dress and flash, I’ve gotten a lot less flashy in recent years. My Range Rover and 6 Series are gone. Turns out a Prius works just as well!
Do you have a favorite designer? I’m fine with grubby sweats. I just ask that things match and make my butt look great.
What is your “go-to” item the one thing you cannot live without? My MacBook Air. I don’t do well without internet access these days.
Who is your biggest influence in life? I am hugely appreciative of the example, set for me by my parents, of living life both humbly and ‘out loud’ at the same time.
What has been your biggest obstacle in life that you overcame or that you intend to overcome? I struggle with feelings of unworthiness, of being selfish and small-minded. Each time I hear myself gossip, or respond from racial or sexual bias, or even am unnecessarily short with someone, it pains me. That’s not the man I wish to be.
Are you currently in a relationship? Are you more comfortable with someone or by yourself? I’m casually seeing someone. I’m also quite fine being with myself. If a man can add something new of value to the equation, bring it on. But I don’t need someone around just to have a warm body present.
What is your worst date story? There’s not enough space here to detail all the miserable first dates I’ve been on. Now I just have sex first (in order to skip the first date ridiculousness) and proceed directly to date #2. Kidding. (Not kidding.)
What is your biggest flaw? There’s likewise not enough space here to even start that list. Probably my moodiness. Or my desire to always be right. Or my flirtatiousness. Or …
What will you be doing in 2009? I have a new novel coming out this spring, If The Rains Don't Cleanse. In it, I tell the story of my parents remarkable experiences in Africa in the 1950s. They went there as schoolteachers and barely got out amid the torture, rape and burnings that marked the 1960 Congo independence. I expect to do some more fitness modeling this year. I want to work with a few photographers whose vision I admire but whom I’ve not had a chance to shoot with yet. I will continue to add my voice and efforts to getting Prop 8 in California reversed and to moving our nation toward a Federal marriage policy that includes all people including LGBT Americans.
What do you hate? Blind bigotry. Religious intolerance. Homophobia. Talking heads on TV who, lacking good ideas, resort to name-calling (like cum laude Cornell graduate Ann Coulter on CNN recently calling Scott McClennan a “retard” because she doesn’t like what he wrote in his book.)
What do you love? Patience and unconditional acceptance.
What’s your favorite curse word? Motherfuck. Just plain “fuck” is so great it’s hard to improve, but motherfuck has a certain flair to it.
What’s your favorite food? Vanilla ice cream with peanut butter on top. (Melt the peanut butter slightly in the microwave first and it re-congeals after you drizzle it on the cold ice cream.)
Any final thoughts? Always do your best. And if you fall short today, don’t beat yourself up too badly--tomorrow is the start of a new ‘always’.
Background: I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. I’m the youngest child in a family of missionary schoolteachers. I grew up poor, frozen, and sometimes hungry, but there was always a roof over my head and I was well-fed with music and knowledge and there always seemed to be just enough money for us to take rambling summer trips across America.
How would you describe your personal style? I’d describe my style as global/eccentric. I try to think green and make choices that reflect a responsibility to my environment and community. But then I go and do things like bring home six pet tortoises or build a small TV studio in my guest bedroom. As far as dress and flash, I’ve gotten a lot less flashy in recent years. My Range Rover and 6 Series are gone. Turns out a Prius works just as well!
Do you have a favorite designer? I’m fine with grubby sweats. I just ask that things match and make my butt look great.
What is your “go-to” item the one thing you cannot live without? My MacBook Air. I don’t do well without internet access these days.
Who is your biggest influence in life? I am hugely appreciative of the example, set for me by my parents, of living life both humbly and ‘out loud’ at the same time.
What has been your biggest obstacle in life that you overcame or that you intend to overcome? I struggle with feelings of unworthiness, of being selfish and small-minded. Each time I hear myself gossip, or respond from racial or sexual bias, or even am unnecessarily short with someone, it pains me. That’s not the man I wish to be.
Are you currently in a relationship? Are you more comfortable with someone or by yourself? I’m casually seeing someone. I’m also quite fine being with myself. If a man can add something new of value to the equation, bring it on. But I don’t need someone around just to have a warm body present.
What is your worst date story? There’s not enough space here to detail all the miserable first dates I’ve been on. Now I just have sex first (in order to skip the first date ridiculousness) and proceed directly to date #2. Kidding. (Not kidding.)
What is your biggest flaw? There’s likewise not enough space here to even start that list. Probably my moodiness. Or my desire to always be right. Or my flirtatiousness. Or …
What will you be doing in 2009? I have a new novel coming out this spring, If The Rains Don't Cleanse. In it, I tell the story of my parents remarkable experiences in Africa in the 1950s. They went there as schoolteachers and barely got out amid the torture, rape and burnings that marked the 1960 Congo independence. I expect to do some more fitness modeling this year. I want to work with a few photographers whose vision I admire but whom I’ve not had a chance to shoot with yet. I will continue to add my voice and efforts to getting Prop 8 in California reversed and to moving our nation toward a Federal marriage policy that includes all people including LGBT Americans.
What do you hate? Blind bigotry. Religious intolerance. Homophobia. Talking heads on TV who, lacking good ideas, resort to name-calling (like cum laude Cornell graduate Ann Coulter on CNN recently calling Scott McClennan a “retard” because she doesn’t like what he wrote in his book.)
What do you love? Patience and unconditional acceptance.
What’s your favorite curse word? Motherfuck. Just plain “fuck” is so great it’s hard to improve, but motherfuck has a certain flair to it.
What’s your favorite food? Vanilla ice cream with peanut butter on top. (Melt the peanut butter slightly in the microwave first and it re-congeals after you drizzle it on the cold ice cream.)
Any final thoughts? Always do your best. And if you fall short today, don’t beat yourself up too badly--tomorrow is the start of a new ‘always’.
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