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Russell Johnson

Acting 89 (deceased) years old Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA ★ 0.8
Born: November 10, 1924
Died: January 16, 2014

Biography

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. CLR

Filmography

Acting Credits (142)

The Unknown Story
The Unknown Story Self - archive footage 2022
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists! Self (archive footage) 2021
The Gilligan Manifesto
The Gilligan Manifesto Himself 2018
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History Himself 2001
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story 1996
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie Steve Carlson (archive footage) 1996
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Space Ghost Coast to Coast Self 1994
Monsters
Monsters Jeffrey 1988
Roseanne
Roseanne 1988
Blue Movies
Blue Movies Mr. Martin 1988
ALF
ALF Professor Roy Hinkley 1986
MacGyver
MacGyver Oslow 1985
Off the Wall
Off the Wall Mr. Whitby 1983
Newhart
Newhart 1982
Gilligan's Planet
Gilligan's Planet Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice) 1982
Fame
Fame 1982
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island Professor 1981
Dynasty
Dynasty 1981
The Great Skycopter Rescue
The Great Skycopter Rescue Professor Benson 1980
Bosom Buddies
Bosom Buddies 1980
Beyond Westworld
Beyond Westworld Patrick 1980
Knots Landing
Knots Landing Tim Murphy 1979
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island Professor 1979
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Rescue from Gilligan's Island Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr. 1978
The Bastard
The Bastard Col. James Barrett 1978
Police Story: No Margin for Error
Police Story: No Margin for Error Captain 1978
The Ghost of Flight 401
The Ghost of Flight 401 Loft 1978
Lou Grant
Lou Grant 1977
MacArthur
MacArthur Admiral King 1977
Nowhere to Hide
Nowhere to Hide Charles Montague 1977
Code R
Code R Ike 1977
Hitch Hike to Hell
Hitch Hike to Hell Captain J.W. Shaw 1977
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II Detective 1976
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur Gen. George Stratemeyer 1976
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman Colonel 1975
Three Days of the Condor
Three Days of the Condor Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited) 1975
You Lie So Deep, My Love
You Lie So Deep, My Love The Foreman 1975
Adventures of the Queen
Adventures of the Queen Forbes 1975
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons 1975
Aloha Means Goodbye
Aloha Means Goodbye Dr. Frank Franklin 1974
The New Adventures of Gilligan
The New Adventures of Gilligan Professor Roy Hinkley (voice) 1974
The Man from Independence
The Man from Independence Linaver 1974
Beg, Borrow...or Steal
Beg, Borrow...or Steal Alex Langley 1973
Police Story
Police Story 1973
Hawkins
Hawkins District Attorney 1973
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
The Horror at 37,000 Feet Jim Hawley 1973
ABC Afterschool Special
ABC Afterschool Special Mr. Calder 1972
McMillan & Wife
McMillan & Wife Carl Jensen 1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Asst D.A. Grant 1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Asst. D.A. Grant 1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Brenton Grant 1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant 1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Prosecutor 1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law DA Grant 1971
Cannon
Cannon 1971
Vanished
Vanished Clyde Morehouse 1971
The Movie Murderer
The Movie Murderer Cliff Thomas 1970
Cry for Poor Wally
Cry for Poor Wally 1969
Mannix
Mannix 1967
Ironside
Ironside Martin Lucas 1967
The Invaders
The Invaders James Bernard 1967
Felony Squad
Felony Squad Tye Laughlin 1966
That Girl
That Girl 1966
The F.B.I.
The F.B.I. Phillip Graham 1965
The F.B.I.
The F.B.I. Jim Kellogg 1965
The F.B.I.
The F.B.I. Dr. McGregor 1965
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told Scribe 1965
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island Roy "The Professor" Hinkley 1964
A Distant Trumpet
A Distant Trumpet Captain Brinker 1964
The Great Adventure
The Great Adventure Narrator (voice) 1963
The Great Adventure
The Great Adventure Self - Narrator 1963
Temple Houston
Temple Houston 1963
The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth Dr. Arnold Andrews 1963
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits Major Benedict 1963
The Dakotas
The Dakotas 1963
General Electric True
General Electric True 1962
Ben Casey
Ben Casey 1961
Ripcord
Ripcord 1961
Route 66
Route 66 Bob Keel 1960
Thriller
Thriller Adam Talmadge 1960
The Detectives
The Detectives Lee 1959
Hawaiian Eye
Hawaiian Eye 1959
Adventures in Paradise
Adventures in Paradise Bowman 1959
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Prof. Manion 1959
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Pete Corrigan 1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
The DuPont Show with June Allyson Hugh 1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
The DuPont Show with June Allyson Tom Richards 1959
Riverboat
Riverboat Darius 1959
The Deputy
The Deputy Albee Beckett 1959
Black Saddle
Black Saddle Marshal Gib Scott 1959
Rawhide
Rawhide Burt Harvey 1959
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip 1958
Lawman
Lawman 1958
Steve Canyon
Steve Canyon Maj. Pitch Hammer 1958
The Saga of Hemp Brown
The Saga of Hemp Brown Hook 1958
Badman's Country
Badman's Country Sundance 1958
The Space Children
The Space Children Joe Gamble 1958
Jefferson Drum
Jefferson Drum The Sundown Kid 1958
Wagon Train
Wagon Train Craig Manson 1957
Wagon Train
Wagon Train Major Dan Marriott 1957
Wagon Train
Wagon Train Steve Marshall 1957
Courage of Black Beauty
Courage of Black Beauty Ben Farraday 1957
Rock All Night
Rock All Night Jigger 1957
Tales of Wells Fargo
Tales of Wells Fargo William Dodd 1957
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Attack of the Crab Monsters Hank Chapman 1957
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Turk 1955
Kings Row
Kings Row 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Stanger 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Harry Webb 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Diggs 1955
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke Link Parrin 1955
This Island Earth
This Island Earth Steve Carlson 1955
Strange Lady in Town
Strange Lady in Town Shadduck 1955
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki Eddie Nelson 1955
Many Rivers to Cross
Many Rivers to Cross Banks 1955
Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday Howard Sloane 1954
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Sgt. Stan Powers 1954
Lassie
Lassie 1954
Johnny Dark
Johnny Dark Emory 1954
Ride Clear of Diablo
Ride Clear of Diablo Jed Ringer 1954
Tumbleweed
Tumbleweed Lam Blandon 1953
City Detective
City Detective 1953
The Stand at Apache River
The Stand at Apache River Greiner 1953
It Came from Outer Space
It Came from Outer Space George 1953
Column South
Column South Biddle 1953
Law and Order
Law and Order Jimmy Johnson 1953
Seminole
Seminole Lt. Hamilton 1953
You Are There
You Are There 1953
Back at the Front
Back at the Front Johnny Redondo - Smuggler 1952
Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America Karl Nader 1952
Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America Dan Marshall 1952
Adventures of Superman
Adventures of Superman 1952
Adventures of Superman
Adventures of Superman Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage) 1952
The Turning Point
The Turning Point Herman (uncredited) 1952
Loan Shark
Loan Shark Charlie Thompson 1952
Rancho Notorious
Rancho Notorious Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited) 1952
For Men Only
For Men Only Ky Walker 1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Lefty 1951
Lux Video Theatre
Lux Video Theatre Carter 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Lux Video Theatre Lennigan 1950
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger Tom Levering 1949
Stevie and Zoya
Stevie and Zoya Narrator

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