Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Johansson was an avid athlete like his father, a former NHL player. After playing with the Canadian national team and leading his university to the Canadian College Championship game, he began contemplating a professional career in basketball overseas. Johansson chose to close the door on his athletic career and instead set his sights on Hollywood.

Making his Hollywood debut on the soap opera Santa Barbara, he soon moved on to a succession of television roles in such shows as Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Beverly Hills, 90210, Lonesome Dove: The Series, Highlander: The Raven and Ed McBain's 87th Precinct. Johansson also made memorable guest appearances in Dharma and Greg and The Drew Carey Show. He also had a recurring role in The District.

On the big screen, Johansson played Sally Field's soap opera husband in the film Soapdish. His other movie credits include When the Party's Over, The Big Picture, She's So Lovely, A Wilderness Station and Carnival of Souls. As a filmmaker, Johansson wrote and directed the acclaimed film short Conversations in Limbo, which opened the Toronto Short Film Festival and was honored at the Nashville Independent Film Festival and ultimately acquired by the Sundance Film Channel.

Continuing as a writer and director, Johansson's current full-length feature The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie is premiering on Showtime this summer and stars Gena Rowlands and James Caan.

Currently, Johansson lives in Los Angeles.