So sad to hear this. I first met Johnny when I was summoning up the courage to quit my staff position and go freelance. I was visiting family in Dallas, and I reached out to him and we had a fantastic happy hour with him and some other Charlie Tango colleagues. He was so friendly and supportive, he really helped me believe I could do this, and we met up at NAB a few times afterwards and always had such a fun time. So very sad….
Sorry I missed the zoom…
I too first met Johnny after summoning the courage to quit my staff position and go freelance. My first out of town gig was at then Treehouse covering for Bryan Bailey while he went on vacation. Johnny was working there and was so helpful and kind. We went out for beers and chatted about Flame and the industry all night. He insisted one morning he pick me up from the hotel and take me to his favorite spot for breakfast tacos before work. That was such a cool thing to do. He was also pretty good at keeping in touch over the years. We lost a great guy, it’s so very sad.
So unfortunate. Only met him once but he was a really genuine guy and had some fun stories to tell.
Hi friends. Jonny’s wife, Gretchen, posted this on Facebook…
Dennis John Fegan IV, affectionately known to all as Johnny, went to be with the Lord on January 1, 2026, at the age of 38.
Born on a day of celebration—July 4, 1987—Johnny brought a spark of energy and light into the world from the very beginning. His life was defined by his love for his family and friends. He was a dedicated husband and a proud father who cherished every moment spent with his son and looked forward with great anticipation to the arrival of his daughter. He was loyal, creative, and witty.
Johnny grew up in Colleyville and attended The University of North Texas. He was a talented, well-respected Flame Artist working in post-production for films and television. Outside of work, Johnny was happiest when he was with his family or watching a Packers game. He loved working in the yard: raking leaves, watering the grass, fire pits, & grilling. He loved old movies and watched TCM religiously. He was very creative and loved art and music as well. He had a unique ability to make people smile, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife, Gretchen; his son, Dennis John V; and his unborn daughter, Olivia, who will grow up knowing her father’s spirit and love. Johnny is also survived by his parents Dennis John II and Nancy; his grandmothers, Joyce and Margaret; and his four brothers and their wives: George and Nicole, Paul and Ruth, Peter and Taylor, and David and Addison. He was a beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews: Madeline, Harrison, Charlie, and Kyra, and he leaves behind a large, close-knit circle of extended family and devoted friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Dennis John I and George Colvin.
Johnny’s life was a reminder to find joy in the celebration, and though he left us on New Year’s Day, his memory will continue to shine brightly for those he leaves behind.
His Celebration of Life will take place on January 10, 2026 at 11:00am at Cross Creek Church in Colleyville Texas (5300 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034). There will be a Livestream available at the following link: https://www.crosscreekchurch.com/funeral. Visitation with the family will start at 10:00am prior to the service with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests support during this incredibly difficult transition for Gretchen and the children. Donations can be made to the GoFundMe page established in his honor: https://gofund.me/72f95a150.
This morning in Dallas, I attended the Celebration of Life for my friend and fellow Flame Artist, John Fegan. It was one of the most tragic, and yet beautiful, services I have ever been a part of.
I wanted to take just a couple of minutes and share what Johnny meant to all of us in the Flame community.
Being a Flame Artist is a truly unique and special way to earn a living. As artists, we get to use both the technical and creative sides of our brains. We get to tell stories, make magic, do the impossible, and then share what we do with the world, whether it’s in a movie, a TV show, or a commercial. I’ve been doing this job for 30 years, and it’s still a thrill to see something I worked on flash across the TV or my phone.
The job comes at a cost, though. The stress level is usually high. The clients are usually crazy, and the unpredictable nature of the job keeps us away from family and friends.
But if you’re the right kind of person - and Johnny was absolutely the right kind of person - This is the best job in the world. When you meet another Flame Artist, no matter where in the world you happen to be, there’s an instant camaraderie. Similar to what teachers, soldiers and firefighters experience, I’ve been told. It’s a bond that can only be formed through shared experience: Shared excitement, shared trauma, and everything in between. There’s no better example of someone who loved the job for all of its ups and downs than Johnny Fegan.
Every day as a Flame Artist means new challenges. At the core of what we do is problem solving, and that feeling you get deep in your gut…that moment where you start to sweat, start to question every decision you’ve ever made, start to question if you’re good enough to keep doing this, that moment at the intersection of success and failure… that’s where the magic happens. That’s where the eureka moments happen. Those times when hope is lost and then suddenly, out of nowhere, you get a spark of inspiration that builds and builds until you find yourself flying at a million miles an hour, with no barrier between your mind and the machine. That’s what makes the job so spectacular, and Johnny LIVED for those moments. Johnny LOVED those moments. And nobody was more excited for YOU when you figured something out, slayed your dragon or did the impossible than Johnny.
Johnny loved the job. He loved the lore behind what it means to be a Flame Artist. He loved the thrill of the chase. He loved challenging himself and he loved sharing that joy with the rest of the community. Johnny was always so happy to hear about your successes, and was even happier to share what he learned with the rest of us. That’s why he will live on forever in our hearts: The seeds he shared, whether they were tips and tricks, or stories and enthusiasm, will continue to bear fruit for many, many years to come.
There’s a belief that we are each called to use our gifts—not to keep them to ourselves, but to serve others with them. Johnny did exactly that. He took the talents he was given and used them generously, joyfully, and with love. He lifted people up. He shared what he knew. He encouraged those around him when they doubted themselves.
Johnny’s hands may be at rest now, but his work is not finished. It lives on in the people he taught, the friendships he built, and the love he gave so freely.
Thank you, Johnny, for the light you shared with us. May you rest in peace, and may your memory forever be a blessing.
I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated to the Gofundme we established for John’s family: His wife, Gretchen, their beautiful two year old son, DJ, and their daughter, Olivia, due to arrive in the coming months. If you’d like to contribute, please use this link: Fundraiser by Andy Milkis : Support for John Fegan’s Family After His Passing
I didn’t know John well enough to call him Johnny. But he left an impression on me. About 12 or 13 years ago, John contacted me. We’d never met, never talked, nothing. He said he was in LA and wanted to have lunch or something. We had burgers at Plan Check on Sawtelle. He had a Packers hat on. We sat and talked about Flame and random stuff. I remember walking away from that thinking, wow! So brave to reach out to me, some older Flame Artist who he didn’t know, making the effort, just cool. I was impressed. We followed each other on Insta but never really reconnected. But like I said, he made an impression on me and I can see why all the love is pouring out for him. May he rest in peace. My heart goes out to his family and all who loved him.
It was the largest turnout I’ve ever seen for a memorial, surely 800 people.
Flame on, Johnny.
