Longtime Elon University Performing Arts professor Carroll “Chip” Johnson died Aug. 11, 2026, according to his obituary from Forbis & Dick Funeral Service.

Johnson graduated from Rollins College with a bachelor of arts in Theatre Arts and received a master of fine arts in Acting and Directing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

Johnson was an active member of the Elon performing arts department, working as an adjunct professor of theatre for nearly 30 years. He performed in musical theatre productions at Elon in roles including The Starkeeper in “Carousel,” Grandpa in “Ragtime” and Jekyll’s Father in “Jekyll & Hyde.” 

The Elon Department of Performing Arts published an Instagram post Aug. 18, mourning Johnson’s death and remembering his contributions to the department.

“With his gentle, easy-going manner and his wonderful sense of humor, Chip was a beloved teacher and colleague in the Department of Performing Arts for many years,” the Elon Department of Performing Arts said in an Aug. 18 Instagram post.

Johnson also performed at the Triad Stage in Greensboro, the International Black Theatre Festival and North Carolina Black Repertory Company. In a statement to Elon News Network, North Carolina Black Repertory Company said Johnson had a respect and passion for acting that allowed him to deeply connect with the audience.

“From the moment Chip stepped into the room, he raised the professionalism and spirit of a project,” NC Black Rep said in a statement to Elon News Network. “The NC Black Rep family is honored to have known and worked with him and blessed to have called him a friend.”

Johnson taught Acting for Non-Majors at Elon University. Elon alumni Caleb Martin ’24 said that he took Johnson’s class at a time when he wasn’t sure he wanted to continue at Elon, but Johnson’s class made him realize his passion for acting and lead to him majoring in Cinema and Television Arts.

“With his teachings, I learned a lot, and he noticed something in me that I didn’t notice,” Martin said. “He pulled me aside one time and he was like, ‘Caleb, I really think you have something here. You’re really good with expressing yourself,’ and I’d never heard that before.”

Junior Amalia Zucker took Acting for Non-Majors as a freshman without much experience in acting. Zucker said that Johnson’s love for theatre strengthened the environment of the class and made the experience a lasting memory.

“You could tell based on the way he conducted the class that his appreciation for his craft was non-negotiable,” Zucker said. “He wanted people who were there to be taking it as seriously as he took it.”

Zucker recounted when she forgot the words to a monologue in class, Johnson didn’t ask her to start over like other professors might have, but instead urged her to continue in the moment.

“I had to decide then whether I was going to man up and finish out what I started or whether I was going to bail out and sit down,” Zucker said. “I use the story in job interviews all the time because it really was a ‘the show must go on’ situation, where I finally understood what that meant.”

Martin said that since Johnson’s instruction impacted his life so much, it was hard to come to terms with the news of his death.

“It really sucks, but he lives on through the people that he has affected, and everything he taught me is still within me today,” Martin said.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 11 at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro.