Russell Johnson
Acting
Born: November 10, 1924 · Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: January 16, 2014 (aged 89)
Highest Rated
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
Known for
Three Days of the Condor
1975
ALF
1986
The Twilight Zone
1959
MacGyver
1985
Wonder Woman
1975
Roseanne
1988
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Gilligan's Island
1964
It Came from Outer Space
1953
This Island Earth
1955
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
1996
The Greatest Story Ever Told
1965
Photos (6)
Movies (47)
Three Days of the Condor
Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Scribe
It Came from Outer Space
George
This Island Earth
Steve Carlson
MacArthur
Admiral King
Black Tuesday
Howard Sloane
Rancho Notorious
Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
Law and Order
Jimmy Johnson
A Distant Trumpet
Captain Brinker
The Saga of Hemp Brown
Hook
Seminole
Lt. Hamilton
Strange Lady in Town
Shadduck
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Steve Carlson (archive footage)
The Turning Point
Herman (uncredited)
Many Rivers to Cross
Banks
Ride Clear of Diablo
Jed Ringer
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Hank Chapman
The Space Children
Joe Gamble
The Ghost of Flight 401
Loft
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
Jim Hawley
Blue Movies
Mr. Martin
The Movie Murderer
Cliff Thomas
Column South
Biddle
For Men Only
Ky Walker
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
Tumbleweed
Lam Blandon
The Stand at Apache River
Greiner
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
Gen. George Stratemeyer
Johnny Dark
Emory
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Professor
Badman's Country
Sundance
Beg, Borrow...or Steal
Alex Langley
Off the Wall
Mr. Whitby
Cry for Poor Wally
1969
Adventures of the Queen
Forbes
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
Professor
Nowhere to Hide
Charles Montague
Loan Shark
Charlie Thompson
Rock All Night
Jigger
Hitch Hike to Hell
Captain J.W. Shaw
Police Story: No Margin for Error
Captain
Aloha Means Goodbye
Dr. Frank Franklin
The Great Skycopter Rescue
Professor Benson
Courage of Black Beauty
Ben Farraday
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
Eddie Nelson
Back at the Front
Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
You Lie So Deep, My Love
The Foreman
TV Shows (84)
Lassie
4 eps
Ironside
Martin Lucas · 1 eps
MacGyver
Oslow · 1 eps
Dynasty
3 eps
Mannix
1 eps
Wagon Train
Craig Manson · 1 eps
Wagon Train
Major Dan Marriott · 1 eps
Wagon Train
Steve Marshall · 1 eps
Newhart
1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Prof. Manion · 1 eps
The Twilight Zone
Pete Corrigan · 1 eps
Knots Landing
Tim Murphy · 1 eps
Tales of Wells Fargo
William Dodd · 1 eps
Rawhide
Burt Harvey · 1 eps
ALF
Roy Hinkley · 1 eps
The Lone Ranger
Tom Levering · 1 eps
Lawman
1 eps
Route 66
Bob Keel · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Stanger · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Harry Webb · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Diggs · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Link Parrin · 1 eps
Cannon
2 eps
The F.B.I.
Phillip Graham · 1 eps
The F.B.I.
Jim Kellogg · 1 eps
The F.B.I.
Dr. McGregor · 1 eps
The Outer Limits
Major Benedict · 1 eps
Ben Casey
1 eps
Thriller
Adam Talmadge · 1 eps
Lou Grant
1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Turk · 1 eps
ABC Afterschool Special
Mr. Calder · 1 eps
Adventures in Paradise
Bowman · 1 eps
Hawaiian Eye
1 eps
Fame
1 eps
The Invaders
James Bernard · 1 eps
Adventures of Superman
1 eps
Adventures of Superman
Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage) · 1 eps
That Girl
2 eps
Police Story
1 eps
77 Sunset Strip
1 eps
Monsters
Jeffrey · 1 eps
The Jeffersons
2 eps
The Deputy
Albee Beckett · 1 eps
McMillan & Wife
Carl Jensen · 1 eps
Gilligan's Island
Professor · 98 eps
Wonder Woman
Colonel · 1 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst D.A. Grant · 23 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst. D.A. Grant · 1 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Brenton Grant · 3 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant · 1 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Prosecutor · 1 eps
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
DA Grant · 1 eps
Laramie
Bob Murkland · 1 eps
The Detectives
Lee · 1 eps
Felony Squad
Tye Laughlin · 1 eps
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Detective · 2 eps
City Detective
1 eps
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Hugh · 1 eps
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Tom Richards · 1 eps
Cavalcade of America
Karl Nader · 1 eps
Cavalcade of America
Dan Marshall · 1 eps
Riverboat
Darius · 1 eps
You Are There
1 eps
Black Saddle
Marshal Gib Scott · 44 eps
Bosom Buddies
1 eps
The Great Adventure
Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
Steve Canyon
Maj. Pitch Hammer · 1 eps
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Sgt. Stan Powers · 1 eps
Roseanne
1 eps
Ripcord
1 eps
Crossroads
Jack Fromer · 1 eps
The Dakotas
1 eps
Beyond Westworld
Patrick · 2 eps
Temple Houston
1 eps
Hawkins
District Attorney · 1 eps
Code R
Ike · 1 eps
The New Adventures of Gilligan
Professor Roy Hinkley (voice) · 32 eps
General Electric True
1 eps
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Lefty · 1 eps
The Bastard
Col. James Barrett · 1 eps
Gilligan's Planet
Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice) · 13 eps
E! True Hollywood Story
1 eps
Vanished
Clyde Morehouse · 2 eps
Self / Appearances (6)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Self · 1 eps
The Great Adventure
Self - Narrator · 3 eps
The Unknown Story
Self - archive footage · 1 eps
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Himself
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Self (archive footage)
The Gilligan Manifesto
Himself