NEW YORK — It wasn’t that long ago that Jack Johnson, the most talked-about golfer in the world, was in a serious fight for his life after a car slammed into him in front of the U.S. Open in August 2016.
Now, Johnson is at the center of a new documentary on PBS titled “Mana” about his life in the sport, the documentary being directed by his wife, Laura Johnson, and featuring a new episode on Tuesday.
The documentary focuses on the story of Jack Johnson as he deals with his mental health issues and his family’s struggles with depression, addiction and the toll of addiction, his wife said in a statement.
The doc, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, also stars actor Sam Witwer, who portrayed Jack Johnson on HBO’s “Real Sports.”
“I want to tell the story that’s been lost and I want to bring it to the world,” Laura Johnson said.
“I want it to bring attention to the millions of people suffering from mental health and addictions.
We know that mental illness affects people in every part of the world and I hope to bring that attention to people.”
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month, Jack Johnson said he was “truly, profoundly sorry” for the accident that killed him.
The accident occurred in October 2016, but was first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in January.
Johnson was taken to the hospital after the crash, where he suffered severe head trauma, according to his wife.
He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in January, but later switched to a different disorder.
He is now sober and in treatment.
Johnson said he is still in contact with family and friends.
He said he feels lucky to have had his career taken over by the people he helped, particularly his wife and children, but has “never felt more alone or overwhelmed than today.”
Johnson has spoken out against the death penalty in the past, calling it “a stain on our society.”
He has said he has no regrets about his career, but that he wishes the death penalties were lifted for some other criminals.
