Ron Johner

"I'm not the mechanic here, Ironsides! I mostly just hurt people!"

―Johner (from Alien Resurrection)

Johner
Biographical Information
Affiliation	Betty crew
Status	Alive
Physical Description
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Hair color	Grey
Eye color	Blue
Other Information
Notable facts	Survived Auriga Xenomorph infestation.
Portrayed by	Ron Perlman

Johner was a mercenary aboard the smuggling ship the Betty. Johner and the crew of the Betty were responsible for delivering several kidnapped civilians to United Systems Military scientists aboard the USM Auriga, and he subsequently became involved in the Xenomorph outbreak and infestation aboard the ship.

Johner was one of four survivors of the Auriga incident, along with Ripley 8, John Vriess and the Auton Annalee Call.

Biography

On Kawlang

Johner was with the Betty crew during a mission on the swamp planet Kawlang that led to Vriess receiving his paralyzing injuries. As the group attempted to escape with their wounded comrade, they were ambushed and Johner received his graphic facial scarring during the firefight.

Meeting Ripley 8

After delivering the Betty's cargo of kidnapped civilians to Dr. Wren and his team aboard the Auriga, Johner and his crew mates encountered Ripley 8 in the ship's recreation hall. When Johner unsuccessfully (and rather forcefully) attempted to seduce her, she ended up beating him violently, before turning on Christie, who came to his aid.

Johner is forced to fight for his survival when the Xenomorphs bred on Augriga break out of containment and infested the ship. He along with the surviving crewmembers eventually reach the Betty, but are confronted by Dr. Wren. Purvis, the survivor they rescued while venturing the Auriga, sacrifices himself and kills Wren using the Chestburster gestating within him. Johner along with Vriess later pilot the Betty to safety and head for Earth.

Personality and Traits

"Don't ever touch me! EVER!"

―Johner, to Calabrese (from Alien Resurrection)

Impulsive, violent, abrasive and attitudinal, Johner clearly considered himself to be the alpha-male among the Betty crew (or any group of people, for that matter). Crass and bold, he was particularly arrogant with regards to the opposite sex; he developed a sexual interest in both Call and Ripley 8 almost immediately, an interest he was only too happy to blatantly and shamelessly reveal. The routine rejection by women of this behavior was apparently of no deterrence to him. Johner would also spend much of his time harassing and bullying other crew members for weaknesses that he perceived in their character. He was particularly abusive towards Vriess, even going so far as to use his paralyzed legs for target practice with throwing knives, justifying his actions be pointing out that Vriess "didn't feel a thing". Johner's lack of respect for the newest member of the crew, Call, apparently grew when it was revealed that she was an Auton, with Johner openly lamenting that he "almost fucked it".

However, despite his brutal and violent nature, Johner was a valuable member of the Betty crew, acting as the heavy firepower when things became desperate. His fearless attitude and virtual lust for conflict made him a worth ally during the Xenomorph outbreak aboard the Auriga. Despite his generally combative nature, Johner was close to Christie and also held Elgyn in high regard as his commanding officer. Johner was additionally mellowed somewhat by his experiences aboard the Auriga, growing far closer to Vriess as a result.

Equipment

"My own recipe. Way more dangerous."

―Johner, referring to his Thermos Gun (from Alien Resurrection)

Johner armed with an incinerator and a pistol.

When he went aboard the Auriga, Johner carried a custom-made shotgun concealed inside a thermos of moonshine. It was apparently a single-shot weapon, as he discarded it following the shootout in the recreation hall, instead claiming an Draco Double Burner from the dead soldier Calabrese. He also armed himself with a pair of United Systems Military Pistols.

Behind the Scenes

Props

Johner‘s Prop Knife

The knife in its box frame.

Johner's knife can clearly be seen in the film when Johner is taunting Vriess aboard the Betty; Johner drops his knife into Vriess' leg. The weapon was made from resin and hand painted to look like metal and wood.

The knife is currently for sale at Movie Bits.com for £495.00. It has been mounted in a box frame with laser cut display showing the film's title and description along with two stills from the scene the knife was used in. It comes supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Trivia

• After filming the scene where Johner hangs upside-down from the ladder and shoots at the Alien below, actor Ron Perlman found that he had severely lacerated the backs of his legs performing the stunt.
• Perlman also nearly drowned while filming the film's underwater sequence; at one point, while trying to surface quickly, he struck his head on a sprinkler in the set's ceiling, knocking him unconscious whilst still in the water. Fortunately he was rescued by safety divers before he drowned.
• In the novelization of the movie, Johner's character has a phobia of bugs and as a result is deathly afraid of the Xenomorphs, often shaking uncontrollably with fear whenever they appear. This is contrary to his portrayal in the film, where he seems to show little concern for the horrors around him (although he still blasts a spider off of its web with a shot from his pistol after the upside-down shooting scene).

Appearances

• Alien Resurrection/novel/comic (First Appearance)
• Aliens: Original Sin