Johnson's first acting credit was in the low-budget biker film The Nam Angels (1989), and shortly after he had his first co-starring role in a major film when he played the role of Ted Baker in the 1989 film Always, directed by Steven Spielberg. His other movie credits include Flight of the Intruder, Philadelphia Experiment II, Copperhead and Supergator. In all three Left Behind films, Brad Johnson played the part of Rayford Steele.