Israel Johnson joined the cast in Series 4 of Disney comedy series Bunk’d in 2019 as regular character Noah Lambert, with Series 7 (the final series) airing last year on Disney Channel, and whilst in the cast, Israel filmed for a crossover episode with Raven’s Home called Raven About Bunk’d. In 2023, Israel attended the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, where he was nominated for Favourite Male TV Star (Kids) for his portrayal of Noah. Amongst Israel’s recent projects, he played Terrell in episodes of Series 3 of Bel-Air, and across both series of sitcom Schooled, he played Ed Morris, with Tim Meadows playing Principal John Glascott. Answering our questions, we found out from Israel about his regular role of Noah Lambert in Disney’s Bunk’d, filming for episodes of Bel-Air and his time as Ed Morris across both series of Schooled.
In 2019, you joined the cast of Disney comedy series Bunk’d as new regular character Noah Lambert, how familiar were you with Bunk’d and the original series Jessie before auditioning and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role?
My siblings and I loved both series before I auditioned. We watched both of them all the time, and we knew all the theme songs. After I found out I had booked it, I was extremely thankful that I was blessed with the opportunity.
How would you describe Noah and what was he like to play?
Noah Lambert was an actor, so he was a relatable character in that aspect. He’s a very bold and outgoing character to portray. I’ve definitely seen more of those qualities in my life since I’ve played him. A really fun role.
What are some of your stand-out memories from your time working on Bunk’d over the years and did you have any favourite scenes/episodes to film?
One stand-out memory I have from the set – one of the guys on the show had to sing a part from Hakuna Matata on a mic in front of the whole crew. It sounded absolutely foul the first time we did it, but after a couple of tries, we got it. One of my favourite episodes is Episode 6 of Season 7. I got to play a director in the episode, which is something I want to do in the future.
How did you find the experience playing a regular character on a hugely-popular long-running Disney series?
It was an amazing experience; I played Noah throughout all my teen years. The cast and the crew were all family. We loved the show and each other.
How was it seeing the fan response to the final series of Bunk’d, which aired on Disney Channel last year?
A lot of people still comment asking when is the show going to come back. It’s still definitely a fan favourite.
Is there anything you miss most about playing Noah and how was it filming your final scenes?
Filming the last scenes was definitely emotional for everybody. One thing I miss most about playing Noah is all the different characters he got to play in the show.
Whilst in the cast of Bunk’d, you filmed for a crossover episode with Raven’s Home – Raven About Bunk’d – what was this like to be part of?
It was cool collaborating with a different cast. I learned a lot from the crew on how to film so many people at the same time.
How was it being nominated for Favourite Male TV Star (Kids) at the 2023 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for your portrayal of Noah Lambert and what was the ceremony like to attend?
I was truly grateful to be considered for that award. Growing up I would watch the KCAs all the time, so to see myself nominated was a dream.
Can you tell us about your character Terrell in Bel-Air, and how was it filming episodes of Series 3?
Terrell is a man of the people, he doesn’t buckle under pressure. I love single-cam projects so filming Bel-Air was a pleasure.
What did you enjoy most about your time playing Ed Morris across both series of sitcom Schooled?
Schooled was the first single-cam that I ever did. So that was an amazing experience within itself. What I enjoyed most about playing Ed Morris was probably all the actors I got to work with. Especially working with Tim Meadows, that man is hilarious. Learned a lot from my time there.
How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
I knew from the age of five I wanted to act. One day, I saw my brother signing autographs after he finished a show in Disney’s The Lion King in Las Vegas. After I saw that, I told my parents I wanted to pursue acting as well.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
Well, right now, for TV, definitely Severance. I love The Office and all mockumentary shows like that. I also love black sitcoms like Martin, Fresh Prince, Living Single, A Different World, In Living Color, and The Bernie Mac Show.
Some of my favourite films are: Love Jones, The Nutty Professor, Step Up 3, Three Little Ninjas, Love Don’t Cost A Thing, First Sunday, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Fight Club, The Truman Show, and so many more.
How do you like to spend your time away from acting?
I love to spend time with my family. I sew, I love to thrift, I love to watch anime, so anything to do with fashion, film, and TV. I also love skateboarding.
What do you find most enjoyable about having an acting career, and have you been given any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?
I just love the craft; it’s something I will forever love doing. Some of the best advice is to just be prepared. It’s a simple thing but it makes all the difference.
What are you hoping 2025 brings for your career and do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about?
I’m praying that in 2025, I get to work with more of my favourite actors and directors.
Follow Israel on: