Fans from the sports and the video gaming communities are coming together to lend financial support to Wes Johnson. Johnson is a longtime Washington Capitals stadium announcer and prolific voice actor.
The 63-year-old Falls Church resident was found unresponsive in a hotel room in Atlanta. He was in Atlanta to host a January 22 event for the National Alzheimer’s Foundation. He remains in critical condition in an Atlanta intensive care unit. A cause for the medical emergency has not been announced.
A GoFundMe request set a goal for $50,000. By this morning, the total was nearing $147,000, with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis contributing $25,000.
Johnson’s “unleash the fury” rally cry during Capitals home games at Capital One Arena has become legend. He is also popular in the video game world as the voice of several iconic characters. He voices characters in games such as Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, World of Warcraft, and Star Trek: Legacy & Conquest.
A frequent television and film character actor, he has appeared in Veep, Unsolved Mysteries, and Homicide: Life on the Street.
“The Washington Capitals express our heartfelt thoughts and send our best wishes to our beloved public address announcer, Wes Johnson, as he faces a significant medical emergency,” the team said in a statement. “We kindly ask everyone to keep Wes in your thoughts and to respect the family’s privacy as they navigate this challenging time and focus on Wes’ well-being.”
Northern Virginia Magazine interviewed Johnson last year. He expressed what it meant to receive a career achievement award from the Capitals. “Getting this award was totally unexpected — thanking me for 25 years, a trophy with a crystalline microphone on it,” he said. “It took everything not to cry, but it was emotional. It’s nice to be recognized after all that time.”
Feature image of Wes Johnson courtesy Washington Capitals
