Nicholas Johnson, the eldest son of prominent entertainment attorney Matt Johnson, died July 1 in a car accident. He was 28 years old.
Johnson was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Sherman Oaks around 1 a.m. at the intersection of Sepulveda Avenue and Valley Meadow Road, just west of Interstate 405. Canyon News I mentioned. He was driving a Toyota GR86 when his car hit a curb and struck a light pole, and Los Angeles Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Born on May 28, 1998, Johnson graduated from Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences in 2016 and left Los Angeles to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduating summa cum laude in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
He returned to Los Angeles after graduation and became a public policy fellow at Netflix, then worked as a staff accountant at Ground Control Business Management. From 2023 to 2025, he was enrolled in a full-tuition Dean’s Scholarship at the USC Marshall School of Business, where he earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Strategy and Technology. He then became an administrative assistant at LexisNexis.
Formerly at Ziffren Brittenham, Matt Johnson is now a partner at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, which he co-founded in 2022. Clients of his new firm include Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, the Obamas, Sacha Baron Cohen, Serena Williams, Emma Stone, LeBron James, Adam McKay, Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan.
In addition to his father, Nicholas’ survivors include his mother, Erika; stepmother, Yasmine; Sisters Kylie and Malala. Brother Maverick; Grandma Jenny; grandparents Edmund and Denise; And his dog Leo.
A scholarship fund will be established at Morehouse College in Nicholas’ name. Those who would like to make a gift to honor his legacy and life can begin by clicking here.
“Nicholas was a teacher,” his family wrote. “He would disappear from view and could sit quietly at the table, but when he had something to say, it was to raise the level of the conversation. It wasn’t just to be ‘right’ or show off — it was to arouse everyone’s curiosity, too. If there was something he didn’t understand, he would go and study it. If there was someone he admired, he would watch how that person moved through the world, examine himself, and then go to work on formulating those things.” Attitudes in his soul.
“Nicholas was also remarkably kind. He cared about each one of us, but perhaps more importantly, he cared about all of us. He was interested in world events not just for political reasons, but because he was extremely curious about human beings and why we behave the way we do. He was fascinated by military discipline and reading the likes of Winston Churchill. He understood that everything that happens today has roots in historical events. With recent discussions about the Middle East, Nicholas decided to start reading the Old Testament to better understand the origins.”
“Nicholas’ biggest passion was driving and shooting. He would go on long drives as often as he could, and you could find him at the shooting range every week. Nicholas also loved being outdoors, whether it was hiking, rock climbing or diving. He wasn’t exploring the easy way out; he was challenging himself to reach new heights and explore the depth of beauty on this planet. He was also the first person you would want to be stranded with on a deserted island.”
“Nicholas was incredibly close to each of his three siblings. Nikolas was Kelly’s younger brother, but she would turn to him for advice on everything from finances to friendships. Anytime Maverick made a senior school decision, he would start by saying, ‘Bubba says I should…'” Malala looked to Nicholas as a protector and relished the moments when their 14-year gap disappeared, and they bonded over their love of dogs.
“Nicholas will be missed dearly as he was loved. We will carry his lessons forward until we meet again.”
