Johnny Lewis began making television appearances while in his late teens, with guest starring roles in Boston Public (2000), The Guardian (2001), and American Dreams (2002), among others. His debut feature film performance premiered in 2004, in New Line Cinema’s Raise Your Voice, and he followed that up with Miramax Films’ Underclassman in 2005. He co-starred as Pearce Chase, one of five siblings on the Fox series Quintuplets, and appeared in the movie Raise Your Voice (2004) alongside Hilary Duff. He guest starred in four episodes of the Nickelodeon television series Drake & Josh as Scottie, one of Drake’s bandmates, and from 2005 to 2006, he played Dennis “Chili” Childress on The O.C.. Lewis also had a guest spot in the third episode of Smallville season 5. He also starred in the film Magic Valley (2011), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Lewis was well known for his role as prospect biker Kip “Half-Sack” Epps in the first two seasons of the FX original series Sons of Anarchy. Johnny Lewis dated American singer-songwriter Katy Perry from 2005 to 2006. In the summer of 2009, Lewis learned he and his then-girlfriend, actress Diane Marshall-Green, were expecting a baby. The couple had split up by April 6, 2010, when the couple’s daughter, Culla May, was born, but briefly attempted sharing a residence. That did not work, and Lewis moved out, after which the couple engaged in a “long and painful” custody battle which Lewis ultimately lost.

Johnny Lewis was born in a “Jewish-oriented household” to a family that also practiced Scientology; his parents attained the highest available level within Scientology, called “Operating Thetan”, or OT VIII. He starred in Scientology training films, and was a sponsor of the Scientology drug rehabilitation front group Narconon. Lewis left the Church of Scientology in his early 20s. Johnny Lewis was arrested three times between 2011 and 2012. In January 2012, he struck two men in the head with a bottle while engaged in a fight. He pleaded no contest to charges of assault with a deadly weapon in the case. The second arrest came about six weeks after the first, with Lewis accused of attempting to break into a woman’s home. He pleaded no contest in that case as well. Considering the cases, a probation official expressed that he was “very concerned for the well-being of not only the community but that of the defendant”, that Lewis suffered from mental health issues as well as chemical dependency, and that Lewis would “continue to be a threat to any community he may reside in”. Lewis was released from a Los Angeles County, California, jail on September 21, 2012, five days before his death.

On October 30, 2011, Johnny Lewis suffered head injuries from a high-speed motorcycle accident. Though an MRI was indicated, and Lewis’ father scheduled MRI tests twice, Lewis refused to take them. Lewis’ father also states that he “pursued and encouraged psychiatric treatment for his son. It was Johnny who refused to comply.” He started manifesting bizarre and illogical behavior from that point on and concurrent to his ensuing legal troubles. Bill Jensen reports in Los Angeles magazine, Lewis and his attorneys pushed for rehab for marijuana addiction. When Lewis rejected this, they pursued rehab for alcoholism, to avoid trial. In early August 2012, Lewis was well enough to be granted provisional out-patient status. He made a deal with the District Attorney of the San Fernando Court – his freedom for “time served”. Lewis was assured that he would likely just spend a couple more days in jail, no more. The couple of days turned into nearly two more months, during which he suffered a severe downturn in health and spirits. Released from jail September 21, he determined to make his own way and get his life together.

On September 26, 2012, Johnny Lewis and his 81-year-old landlord, Catherine Davis (known by most of her tenants as “Miss Cathy”), were found dead at Davis’ home. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) found Lewis’ body on the home’s driveway. Davis was found dead inside the villa, which appeared to have been ransacked. Davis’ death was investigated as a homicide, in which Lewis was a suspect. It was later determined that Lewis broke into the house and murdered Davis and killed her pet cat. According to multiple reports, police were called to the scene after neighbors heard the 81-year-old woman screaming. Neighbors told police they saw a man jump the fence on the Davis property, assault a painter and a homeowner next door, then jump back over the fence. According to the LAPD, Lewis then either fell or jumped from the roof, garage, or patio of Davis’ villa. An autopsy report released on November 29, 2012 stated that Lewis did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system when he died. Lewis had a history of drug abuse, leading to speculation by his attorney that the actor may have suffered a drug-induced psychosis when he allegedly killed his landlord. However, toxicology reports came back negative for alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, psychedelic drugs, or anti-psychotic medication. The autopsy report did indicate he had suffered partial strangulation and had fingernail marks on his neck when he died. There was no indication that Lewis had been pushed or that he jumped from the roof in an act of suicide. His death was ruled accidental.