366:, stating that in retrospect of all the character's actions, despite being written as "charismatic and funny, and kind of a caricature of a shouty 80s buisnessman, he's also obviously a gold plated dickhead". She enjoyed that the game portrayed him as weak, unable to endure a fate he considered for others, and how at the end of the game it was implied despite his desire to die his consciousness was kept alive by the results of his own experiments. She described it as being "hoist on his on petard, trapped in a hell of his own making that he asked for, is the perfect Greek underworld-style ironical punishment for Cave Johnson."
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340:
s Will Tuttle wrote that it is "hard not to feel oddly honored to take part in some of the experiments that ranged across his entire career". He also wrote of
Simmons that his voice "adeptly blend gravitas and silliness, and I found his segment to be just as great the second time I played through the
44:
196:
guy" who would contrast with the "anti-septic" and "politically correct" nature of
Aperture Science. Though the idea of the character underwent several changes over the development, the selection of J.K. Simmons helped solidify the character. Pictures of Cave Johnson appear throughout
185:, where players controlled him as he was trapped inside a computer. This idea, however, was eventually scrapped. They later envisioned Cave Johnson as the primary antagonist, but this was also scrapped. This idea was revealed as a result of leaked quotes from the character.
273:
facility. These messages explain various areas, as well as the backstory of the company. In these pre-recorded messages, he is sometimes accompanied by his assistant, Caroline. Over time, both the company and his health begin to decline, the latter due to exposure to
354:
and GLaDOS. Professor G. Christopher
Williams discussed the relationship between Caroline and Cave Johnson, stating that it fulfilled the idea that "behind every good man is a good woman" due to his dependence on her for both the company and his comfort.
181:. In the early days, the company was named Aperture Fixtures and made shower curtains for the military. It later became Aperture Science as Johnson's ambitions changed and grew. He was initially considered to be the main character of
978:
628:
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Lou Kesten wrote that Cave was a "memorable" character, and that
Simmons helped in portraying what he thought was one of the three "most distinctive characters in video games" along with
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323:. The game takes place some years after Cave's body has died, but his personality has been implanted in a giant computer encased in a stone carving of his own head.
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used a casting call to try to find someone to use as a template, they turned back to their own lead animator, Bill
Fletcher, for Cave's face.
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177:. He is described as an "eccentric dead billionaire" and "extroverted, enthusiastic, and opinionated." He was the founder and CEO of
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313:, where Cave was added as an in-game guest announcer. In 2022, Simmons once again reprised his role as Cave Johnson for the
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appearance, Cave
Johnson has put his own consciousness in a Personality Core. He also portrays Cave Johnson in
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Cave
Johnson has received positive reception from critics, with J.K. Simmons praised for his portrayal.
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43:
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265:, but his image is seen in paintings and his voice is heard in pre-recorded messages as protagonist
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971:"Aperture Desk Job continues the story of business mega-bastard Cave Johnson absolutely perfectly"
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facility, though all of his messages are pre-recorded from before the events of the
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s ending: "the [spoiler] is probably lurking out there somewhere""
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Cave
Johnson's only full appearance to date is in the 2011 video game
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936:"'Her Name Is Caroline': Identifying the Misbehaving Woman in
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677:"Cave Johnson Introduces Portal 2's Long Fall Boots - Xbox"
995:
652:"'Portal 2' is a dark, humorous joy (and that's no lie)"
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286:. An alternative version of Cave Johnson appears in the
146:. Johnson serves as a guide to the player-character
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458:"Valve's Wolpaw Offers Behind-The-Scenes Peek Into
208:Though comparisons have been made between Cave and
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73:
60:
26:
491:
489:
117:franchise first introduced in the 2011 video game
138:. He is referenced by a computer username in the
250:, spoke original lines for various trailers for
786:Lahti, Evan; Stapleton, Dan (April 19, 2011).
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280:putting a person's mind inside of a computer
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42:
299:, and is able to be heard throughout the
261:Cave Johnson does not appear directly in
150:as she explores an abandoned part of the
1408:Video game characters introduced in 2011
1373:Fictional American people in video games
934:Williams, G. Christopher (May 3, 2011).
303:adventure world and bonus level. In his
16:Fictional character in the Portal series
1383:Fictional businesspeople in video games
374:
804:from the original on December 31, 2015
579:writers Erik Wolpaw and Jay Pinkerton"
293:J.K. Simmons returned to the role for
290:update, Perpetual Testing Initiative.
23:
981:from the original on February 6, 2024
915:from the original on January 27, 2020
730:from the original on October 12, 2012
246:game in 2007. Johnson's voice actor,
169:Cave Johnson was created by designer
7:
950:from the original on October 9, 2022
841:from the original on August 22, 2012
591:from the original on January 4, 2013
514:from the original on January 5, 2013
278:. He later muses on the prospect of
631:from the original on April 30, 2011
551:from the original on April 29, 2011
498:"Five things you didn't know about
400:from the original on March 14, 2011
1388:Fictional inventors in video games
878:from the original on June 27, 2012
496:Saltzmann, Marc (April 14, 2011).
111:is a fictional character from the
14:
749:Robinson, Andy (April 19, 2011).
269:traverses abandoned parts of the
123:. He is voiced by American actor
48:Johnson (left) and his assistant
1124:
610:Stanton, Rich (April 26, 2011).
456:Alexander, Leigh (May 6, 2011).
419:Watts, Steve (October 6, 2008).
969:Bell, Alice (August 18, 2023).
903:a Blast for the Thinking Gamer"
860:Tuttle, Will (April 21, 2011).
712:Wilde, Tyler (April 22, 2011).
533:Walker, John (April 27, 2011).
382:Miller, Greg (March 11, 2011).
236:, having been referenced in an
1393:Male characters in video games
897:Kesten, Lou (April 20, 2011).
823:Davis, Ryan (April 19, 2011).
675:Dobie, Alex (April 12, 2011).
650:Frum, Larry (April 19, 2011).
573:Braga, Matt (April 19, 2011).
421:"Rumor: Casting Call Hints at
1:
539:: Spoiler Interview Part One"
188:Johnson was envisioned since
1424:
1403:Portal (series) characters
1290:Thinking with Time Machine
142:and appears indirectly in
1122:
1097:Bridge Constructor Portal
760:ComputerAndVideoGames.com
362:praised his portrayal in
41:
31:
1398:Fiction about narcissism
1351:Tag: The Power of Paint
908:San Diego Union-Tribune
127:and created in part by
1378:Fictional con artists
911:. Associated Press.
258:exposition in 2011.
165:Concept and creation
1283:Portal Stories: Mel
254:, including at the
192:as an "industrial,
21:Fictional character
1276:Portal: Revolution
975:Rock Paper Shotgun
544:Rock Paper Shotgun
437:on August 10, 2011
388:Nabs J.K. Simmons"
360:Rock Paper Shotgun
52:as they appear in
1360:
1359:
1337:The cake is a lie
1317:
1316:
1308:Portal: No Escape
1202:
1201:
1120:
1119:
1111:Aperture Desk Job
1104:Aperture Hand Lab
693:on March 20, 2012
664:on April 2, 2012.
364:Aperture Desk Job
320:Aperture Desk Job
173:and is voiced by
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79:Aperture Desk Job
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763:. Archived from
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689:. Archived from
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660:. Archived from
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271:Aperture Science
179:Aperture Science
152:Aperture Science
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1269:Portal Reloaded
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1083:Lego Dimensions
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74:Last appearance
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575:"Q&A with
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125:J. K. Simmons
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1255:Aperture Tag
1253:
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1215:Exile Vilify
1191:
1165:Cave Johnson
1164:
1109:
1102:
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985:February 12,
983:. Retrieved
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952:. Retrieved
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917:. Retrieved
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769:. Retrieved
765:the original
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732:. Retrieved
721:
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695:. Retrieved
691:the original
680:
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662:the original
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476:. Retrieved
472:the original
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435:the original
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109:Cave Johnson
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32:
27:Cave Johnson
18:
1300:Short films
1240:Fan content
1230:Still Alive
1076:Potato Sack
1043:Main series
1036:Video games
919:January 27,
226:Appearances
210:Andrew Ryan
171:Erik Wolpaw
136:Erik Wolpaw
134:s designer
91:Erik Wolpaw
1367:Categories
1142:Characters
944:PopMatters
862:"GameSpy:
834:Giant Bomb
723:GamesRadar
535:"Valve On
370:References
317:tech demo
315:Steam Deck
276:moon rocks
238:Easter Egg
140:first game
87:Created by
61:First game
1221:Music of
1192:Half-Life
1186:Locations
899:"Review:
882:August 2,
845:August 2,
808:August 2,
771:August 2,
751:"Review:
734:August 2,
697:August 2,
635:April 26,
595:April 20,
555:April 27,
518:April 14,
507:USA Today
467:Gamasutra
441:August 2,
404:March 11,
327:Reception
97:Voiced by
37:character
1223:Portal 2
1160:Wheatley
1134:Universe
1058:Portal 2
979:Archived
948:Archived
938:Portal 2
913:Archived
901:Portal 2
876:Archived
864:Portal 2
839:Archived
827:Portal 2
802:Archived
797:PC Gamer
790:Portal 2
753:Portal 2
728:Archived
716:Portal 2
682:TeamXbox
629:Archived
624:PC Gamer
614:Portal 2
589:Archived
577:Portal 2
549:Archived
537:Portal 2
512:Archived
500:Portal 2
460:Portal 2
423:Portal 2
398:Archived
386:Portal 2
352:Wheatley
344:ABC News
301:Portal 2
288:Portal 2
263:Portal 2
256:PAX East
252:Portal 2
233:Portal 2
219:BioShock
199:Portal 2
194:Southern
183:Portal 2
144:Portal 2
129:Portal 2
120:Portal 2
66:Portal 2
54:Portal 2
50:Caroline
1322:Related
1090:The Lab
871:GameSpy
866:Review"
829:Review"
792:review"
430:1UP.com
341:game".
334:GameSpy
214:Rapture
1194:series
1155:GLaDOS
1051:Portal
1028:Portal
954:May 5,
478:May 6,
384:"PAX:
310:Dota 2
284:GLaDOS
243:Portal
190:Portal
157:Portal
114:Portal
82:(2022)
69:(2011)
34:Portal
1262:Mari0
1247:Games
1207:Music
1174:Other
1150:Chell
1068:Other
617:'
425:Plot"
348:'
338:'
267:Chell
203:Valve
159:games
148:Chell
132:'
987:2024
956:2011
921:2020
884:2011
847:2011
810:2011
773:2011
736:2011
699:2011
637:2011
597:2011
557:2011
520:2011
480:2011
443:2011
406:2011
687:IGN
657:CNN
393:IGN
216:in
1369::
977:.
973:.
946:.
942:.
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874:.
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