Here’s why Marvel’s new ‘fearsome’ villain calls Eastern WA home

A Tri-Cities actor is back home after basking in the spotlight as a star in a new Marvel project.

Jamal Lloyd Johnson said that the peace he found in the Tri-Cities helped him land various roles in nearly 15 acting projects in recent years.

The 6-foot-4 actor cuts an impressive frame, often portraying physically intimidating characters.

He’s appeared on several high-profile shows, including "Dexter: Original Sin" and a character in "Bosch: Legacy,” as well as "The Morning Show" alongside Jennifer Aniston.

He moved to the area from Southern California in 2019 just before the COVID pandemic.

"I have done a lot of different things, that's why I said the Tri-Cities has been so good to me," he said in an interview with the Tri-City Herald.

One of those roles is the Marvel villain Barry "The Barracuda" from "The Punisher: One Last Kill," a Disney+ production which released May 12.

Marvel fans were excited to learn about the role, which primes Johnson for a potential return as one of the vigilante antihero The Punisher’s most exciting antagonists.

“(T)he silent and imposing character (Jamal Lloyd Johnson) ... also deserves some recognition, as he is one of the vigilante’s most fearsome foes,” wrote SlashFilm, a publication focusing on news, commentary and criticism of the film and TV industry.

Johnson called his character “a master manipulator.”

"He's not only physically intimidating, but he's intelligent. He does a lot of things without ego ideology,” he said.

He appears alongside Judith Light, a Tony and Daytime Emmy winning star from the long-running sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” and soap opera “One Life to Live.”

The one-hour special is a primer for Jon Bernthal’s Marvel Cinematic Universe character before he appears on the big screen for the first time in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” later this summer.

It serves as a reintroduction to U.S. Marine veteran Frank Castle’s story for fans who might not have seen the 2017-19 Netflix series.

“Still surreal seeing myself step into the world of Marvel,” Johnson, 49, posted on Instagram. “... I’m humbled. Even with a small role, being welcomed into a universe this iconic means a lot to me.”

Another of his recent projects is a role in the new season of "Ruthless," which premieres on June 30 on Paramount Plus. It's the second time he appears as a guest star in the Tyler Perry drama.

Space to create

Lloyd said he could develop these characters and many others from his house in Richland, where he has a creative space to film his auditions and work on his craft.

The community, which he described as "genuine" and "nice," has helped him too.

"I think just having a safe space allows me to really get my mindset and step into my characters," he said. "Because I've noticed that a lot of people here don't bother you, and they're very genuine. There's nobody stopping (to say) ‘Hey, you look familiar, are you on this, are you on that?’ They're in their own space and I love it."

Lloyd said he decided to establish himself in Tri-Cities where one of his daughters, Nevaeh Skye, attends school in Richland. It’s a place where he felt he could create a good lifestyle for his family.

He was looking for a more tranquil space after living in Southern California and New York City, where he studied theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

"Sometimes it's good for actors to kind of step away to have more of a peace of mind," he said. "What I realized just about the people here is that they're genuine, they're hardworking, and there's a strong sense of work ethic."

His next project is "One Attempt Remaining" with John Cena and Jennifer Aniston.

Although it took him a while to get used to Eastern Washington’s slower pace, Lloyd said that it was precisely that relaxed vibe that gave him the chance to develop these characters "a little more because it's less outside noise."

This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Here’s why Marvel’s new ‘fearsome’ villain calls Eastern WA home."