Russell Johnson

Known for ActingBorn 1924-11-10Died 2014-01-16Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Russell David Johnson (November 10, 1924 – January 16, 2014) was an American actor, best known for his role as Professor Roy Hinkley in Gilligan's Island. Military career After graduating from high school, Johnson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. On completing his training, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He flew 44 combat missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a bombardier in B-25 twin-engined medium bombers. On March 4, 1945, while flying as a navigator in a B-25 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his B-25 and two others were shot down during a low-level bombing and strafing run against Japanese military targets in the Philippine Islands. The B-25s encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire, and all three had to ditch in the sea off Zamboanga. Johnson broke both ankles in the landing, and his bomber's co-pilot was killed. Johnson received a Purple Heart for his injuries. He was also awarded the Air Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one campaign star, and the World War II Victory Medal. After Japan's surrender, Johnson was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22, 1945. He joined the United States Air Force Reserve and used the G.I. Bill to pay for his acting studies at the Actors' Lab in Hollywood. While there, he met actress Kay Cousins (1923–1980), whom he married in 1949. His early roles were primarily in Westerns such as Rancho Notorious (1952, starring Marlene Dietrich), Seminole (1953), Law and Order (1953, opposite Ronald Reagan), and Badman's Country (1958), and science fiction films such as It Came from Outer Space (1953), This Island Earth (1955), Attack of the Crab Monsters (1956), and The Space Children (1958). He also appeared in a Ma and Pa Kettle vehicle, Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955), as well as in Roger Corman's rock-'n'-roll crime drama Rock All Night (1957). In 1955, he had a role in Many Rivers to Cross along with Alan Hale Jr., later as the Skipper from Gilligan's Island. "The Professor" on Gilligan's Island Johnson was best known for playing Professor Roy Hinkley (usually called the "Professor"), the very knowledgeable polymath who could build all sorts of inventions out of the most rudimentary materials available on the island. As Johnson himself pointed out, though, he could not fix the hole in the boat. In the first episode of the show, the radio announcer describes the Professor as a research scientist and well-known scoutmaster. Gilligan's Island aired from 1964-67, but has been shown in reruns continuously ever since. CLRRead more

Movies & web series

Aloha Means Goodbye

The Great Adventure

Back at the Front

Hallmark Hall of Fame

E! True Hollywood Story

The Twilight Zone

Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II

Code R

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

MacGyver

Hawkins

ALF

The Outer Limits

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Beg, Borrow...or Steal

Nowhere to Hide

Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History

The Greatest Show on Earth

Gilligan's Island

Lou Grant

The Jeffersons

City Detective

Three Days of the Condor

Monsters

Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki

Newhart

Steve Canyon

Rawhide

Police Story: No Margin for Error

The Bastard

Wonder Woman

Police Story

77 Sunset Strip

Tales of Wells Fargo

McMillan & Wife

Knots Landing

Roseanne

Fame

The Castaways on Gilligan's Island

The Movie Murderer

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie

Ironside

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

The Invaders

The Great Skycopter Rescue

Mannix

Cannon

The DuPont Show with June Allyson