Jeremiah Johnson, the 1972 film starring Robert Redford, has become a classic portrayal of the rugged life of a mountain man in the American West. But did you know that the character of Jeremiah Johnson was based on a real person? The true story of the man behind the legend is just as fascinating—if not more so—than the Hollywood version.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJlF9s2g89U&t=1s

The Real Jeremiah Johnson: John “Liver-Eating” Johnson
The character of Jeremiah Johnson was inspired by the life of John “Liver-Eating” Johnson, a man who lived in the mid-19th century and became a legendary figure of the American frontier. Born John Garrison in New Jersey around 1824, Johnson later changed his name after a violent altercation with a superior officer led him to desert from the U.S. Navy.

Johnson headed west, where he became a trapper, hunter, and all-around mountain man. He quickly earned a reputation for being tough, resourceful, and more than capable of surviving the harsh conditions of the Rocky Mountains.

The Legend of Liver-Eating Johnson
The most famous part of Johnson’s story—and the one that contributed to his fearsome nickname—began after a band of Crow warriors killed his Native American wife. According to legend, Johnson embarked on a personal vendetta against the Crow, systematically hunting down and killing as many as he could. It’s said that he would cut out the livers of the Crow warriors he killed and eat them as a form of ritualistic revenge, though some historians suggest this part of the story was likely exaggerated or invented over time.

Whether or not the liver-eating aspect of Johnson’s story is true, there’s no doubt that he became a figure of fear and respect among the Native American tribes and fellow mountain men alike. His survival skills, combat prowess, and relentless determination made him a near-mythical figure in the Old West.

The Hollywood Adaptation
When director Sydney Pollack and actor Robert Redford brought the story of Jeremiah Johnson to the big screen, they took inspiration from both John “Liver-Eating” Johnson and the novel Crow Killer by Raymond Thorp and Robert Bunker. The film depicts Johnson as a man seeking solitude in the mountains after becoming disillusioned with civilization. However, the movie diverges from the true story in many ways, opting for a more romanticized and heroic portrayal of the mountain man.

In the film, Jeremiah Johnson is shown living peacefully in the wilderness until a tragedy spurs him into conflict with Native American tribes. While the real John Johnson was indeed a solitary and formidable figure, the events of his life were likely more complex and less clear-cut than those depicted in the movie.

The Legacy of Jeremiah Johnson
Despite the embellishments and dramatizations, Jeremiah Johnson remains a compelling depiction of frontier life and the challenges faced by those who chose to live on the edge of civilization. The film captures the spirit of the mountain man era and the enduring allure of the wilderness, even as it builds on the larger-than-life legend of its real-life inspiration.

The true story of John “Liver-Eating” Johnson is a testament to the harsh realities of life in the American West and the lengths to which one man would go to avenge his loved ones. While the Hollywood version of Jeremiah Johnson may be a bit more polished, the real man behind the legend was every bit as tough, determined, and unforgettable.

For those who are fascinated by the history of the American frontier, John Johnson’s story offers a glimpse into the life of a man who became more than just a survivor—he became a legend.