Ashley Johnson Shares Kidnapping Attempt on ‘Growing Pains’ Set

Ashley Johnson, known for her role on the sitcom ‘Growing Pains,’ recently opened up about a terrifying experience she faced during filming. Now 42 years old, she recounted the incident on the podcast “Strange Children.” It happened earlier this month while she was walking with her mother. Suddenly, a man surged out of the audience, grabbed her, and started running with her.

At that moment, there were audience members just a few feet away from her as they both exited the trailer. What’s even more unsettling is that, prior to this alarming event, a fan had sent a letter to the show declaring that they intended to arrive on set with a gun and harm cast members.

Johnson recalled, “I remember walking with my mom and a guy jumped out of the line and picked me up, and just started running.” She mentioned that it wasn’t long before security caught up with the man. “They tackled him, and I remember him just flying through the air.”

Interestingly, she described herself as feeling “naive” during the ordeal and noted that she was upset about losing one of her shoes, believing it indicated she was in serious trouble.

She added, “He obviously ended up going to prison. He had a gun.” Fortunately, security was able to apprehend him and ensure her safety. Johnson was only 6 or 7 years old at the time, and, understandably, she wasn’t fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

During her run on ‘Growing Pains’ from 1990 to 1992, Johnson played Chrissy Seaver, the youngest child of Dr. Jason Seaver, portrayed by the late Alan Thicke. She shared the screen with siblings played by Kirk Cameron, Tracy Gold, and Jeremy Miller.

The show aired for seven seasons from 1985 until 1992. Besides her role on ‘Growing Pains,’ Johnson is also recognized for her voice work in “Recess” and “Ben 10,” plus her significant part in the series “Blindspot.” Notably, she lent her voice and motion capture for Ellie in the acclaimed video game “The Last of Us.”

Alan Thicke, who played her father on the show, passed away from a heart attack in December 2016. His colleagues, including Cameron, Kearns, Gold, and Miller, attended his memorial service in Los Angeles. Even Leonardo DiCaprio, who featured in the last season of ‘Growing Pains,’ offered a tribute to Thicke during the service.