Phil Johnston Biography: Spouse, Age, Children, Net Worth, Movies, Family

Philip Johnston is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and voice actor best known for his work on Disney films such as Wreck-It Ralph (2012), Zootopia (2016), and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), which he co-directed with Rich Moore.

He also voiced characters like Surge Protector in Wreck-It Ralph and Gideon Grey in Zootopia. Johnston received an Academy Award nomination for Ralph Breaks the Internet and was recognized as one of Variety’s “10 Screenwriters to Watch” in 2009.

Profile

• Full Name: Philip Johnston
• Stage Name: Phil Johnston
• Born: October 26, 1971
• Age: 53 years old
• Birthplace: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American screenwriter, director, producer, and voice actor,
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Beverly Johnston ,William Johnston
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Jill Cordes (m. 1999)
• Children: 2
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life And Education

Philip Johnston was born on October 26, 1971, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. He is the son of Beverly and William Johnston, the latter of whom served as an Episcopal priest.

Information about his siblings is not publicly available. Johnston graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1994 with a degree in journalism.

He initially pursued a career in television news before transitioning to filmmaking. In 2004, he earned an MFA in film from Columbia University’s School of the Arts, where he focused on screenwriting and directing. He is of white ethnicity and practices Christianity.

Career

Phil Johnston began his career in journalism before transitioning to filmmaking. He studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin and worked as a TV news reporter in several Midwest cities, including Omaha, Des Moines, Rochester, and Minneapolis.

Despite his success in journalism, he developed a deep passion for storytelling through film, ultimately leading him to pursue a different creative path.

In his late 20s, Johnston enrolled in Columbia University’s MFA program in New York to study screenwriting and directing, marking the beginning of his journey into the film industry.

His early work included the 2004 short film A Thousand Words, which he wrote, directed, and produced. This experience helped him refine his storytelling skills and gain industry recognition.

By 2009, he was named one of Variety’s “10 Screenwriters to Watch,” his screenplay for Cedar Rapids was selected for the prestigious Black List, solidifying his reputation as a rising talent.

Johnston’s breakthrough came with the 2011 Sundance debut of Cedar Rapids, followed by his work on Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and Zootopia (2016).

He later co-directed Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) with Rich Moore, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. In addition to screenwriting and directing, he has provided voice roles in several of his films.

He has recently worked on The Twits as a writer and producer. His career highlights his versatility across multiple aspects of filmmaking, leaving a lasting impact on modern animated storytelling.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @philjohnst

Personal Life

Phil Johnston has been married to television journalist and host Jill Cordes since October 7, 2000.

The couple met while working at KETV in Omaha, Nebraska, where Johnston was a reporter, and Cordes was a morning anchor. They have two children, though their names are not publicly known.

Filmography

• Cedar Rapids (2011)
• Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
• A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
• Zootopia (2016)
• The Brothers Grimsby (2016)
• Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018),
• The Twits (2025)
• A Thousand Words (2004)
• Flightless Birds (2005)
• Rupture (2005)
• Bomb (2007)
• Ghosts/Aliens (2010)
• Moana (2016)
• Frozen II (2019)
• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

Net Worth

Phil Johnston’s exact net worth and financial status remain undisclosed.

However, as a successful filmmaker and voice actor, he has likely accumulated significant wealth through his work on major animated films such as Wreck-It Ralph, Zootopia, and Ralph Breaks the Internet.