  Photo: Kevin Clark |
Like many young boys, Dion Johnstone was into superheroes and magical worlds. But unlike many young boys, he now makes a living out of them.
Though Johnstone has had many TV roles, on shows like The X-Files, Monk and The Guard, he is perhaps best known for his multiple characters on Stargate SG-1.
“I became notorious for being brought back as different aliens,” he says.
Born in Montreal and raised in Edmonton, the multi-talented Johnstone played trombone in his school jazz band. “It was during a performance of a swing-era musical that I was bitten by the show business bug and realized I wanted a career as a performer,” he says.
View the photo gallery of Dion Johnstone's home.
This April will mark his sixth year appearing at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where he has roles in The Tempest and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Johnstone invited Star Spaces into his home.
Q: How would you describe your home in two words?
A: Modern and cozy.
Q: Tell us about your home.
A: I live in a one-bedroom apartment which is 600 square feet. It was built in 1952. I would describe the style as old and crazy. It still has a little compartment outside the front door where milk was probably delivered in the day.
Q: What attracted you to this space?
A: The big windows in the living room, the high ceilings and the hardwood floors.
Q: Who shares your home?
A: My girlfriend, actor Lisa Berry.
Q: What is your favourite room? Why?
A: The living room. We’ve been able to divide it into two functional workspaces. On one side is the music area, with a piano, guitar and djembe drum. On the other side, divided by a simple Asian-style screen, is an office space with a modern desk, laptop, scanner and digital graphics pad. This is where I do much of my business and artwork.
Q: How would you describe your decorating style?
A: Modern fused with Asian touches. The living room has a purple-grey wall. We love the big window in the living room. It brings in an abundance of light. Our couch is very low with sharp, clean lines. The entertainment unit is long and also low to the ground.
Lisa’s work area contains her chocolate-brown piano. Opposite is my office; it’s done in black and glass.
Q: What is your fondest memory in this home?
A: My favourite memory is of us racing home with our new furniture only to discover we didn’t have assembly instructions for some of the pieces. We spent many hours creatively and successfully assembling our furniture without causing any strain in our relationship. That was a sign that living together was going to be good thing.
Q: What’s the one item in this you can’t live without?
A: My Wacom Cintiq 12wx [digital art pad]. With it, I am able to create graphics with greater ease than with traditional media. Though I still love drawing by hand, colouring and painting in Photoshop is a miracle!
Q: Weekends at home, what are we most likely to find you doing?
A: Cozied up with my lady, catching up on our favourite programs on our PVR, munching on popcorn and frozen yogurt.
Q: If your walls could talk, what would they say?
A: “Though I’m still a work in progress, I welcome you. Take off your shoes and rest your feet.”
View the photo gallery of Dion Johnstone's home.
