Johnny Cade is a shy and very frightened person. Due to the fact he was once beaten badly by the Socs. and because his parents also beat him. The gang is like his family but Johnny still wishes his real parents cared.

Out of all the Greasers Johnny admires Dally the most and he is best pals with Ponyboy.

One night while in the park the same Socs. that had beaten him up, jump him and Ponyboy. One of the Socs. starts to drown Ponyboy in the fountain. In self defense Johnny grabs his switch blade out of his pocket and stabs the Soc.,killing him.

Him and Ponyboy then escape to an old abandoned church and hide out where all they did was play poker, smoke, an read a paperback copy of Gone With the Wind until Dally comes up to check on them and then takes them to Dairy Queen. During lunch Johnny exclaims they're gonna turn them selves in.

They drive back to the church to get their stuff, but to their surprise the church is on fire. Ponyboy and Johhny, out of bravery jump into the blazing church to save some kids that were having a field trip up there. Ponyboy makes it out okay, but Johnny doesn't. The roof caves in and a board falls on him.

At the hospital the doctor explains to a grieving Ponyboy that Johnny has a broken back and severe third degree burns and will probably die.

After the Greasers and the Socs. fight for what they believe in, in the rumble of the centry, Ponyboy and Dally rush to the hospital to tell Johnny the news. Johnny looks pale and misserable. Dally tells him all about the fight and Johnny weakly replies that fighting is useless. Johnny then softly say, "Stay Gold Ponyboy," refering to a poem that Ponyboy had told him at the old church. Johnny's head then slowly sinks into the pillow and passes on to the other side.

He is potrayed by Ralph Macchio in the movie.

Stay Gold