Biography
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Russell David Johnson (November 10, 1924 β 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 (1923β1980), 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
all 123
TV Shows 72
Movies 51
self 4
Narrator 2
The Gilligan Manifesto (2018)
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three-Hour Tour in History (2001)
E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994)
Animania (1991)
Monsters (1988)
Roseanne (1988)
Blue Movies (1988)
ALF (1986)
MacGyver (1985)
Off the Wall (1983)
Newhart (1982)
Gilligan's Planet (1982)
Fame (1982)
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981)
Dynasty (1981)
The Great Skycopter Rescue (1980)
Bosom Buddies (1980)
Beyond Westworld (1980)
Knots Landing (1979)
The Rebels (1979)
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979)
Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978)
The Bastard (1978)
Police Story: No Margin for Error (1978)
The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978)
Lou Grant (1977)
MacArthur (1977)
Nowhere to Hide (1977)
Code R (1977)
Hitch Hike to Hell (1977)
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976)
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur (1976)
Wonder Woman (1975)
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
You Lie So Deep, My Love (1975)
Adventures of the Queen (1975)
The Jeffersons (1975)
Aloha Means Goodbye (1974)
The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974)
The Man from Independence (1974)
Police Story (1973)
Beg, Borrow...or Steal (1973)
Hawkins (1973)
The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973)
ABC Afterschool Special (1972)
McMillan and Wife (1971)
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971)
Cannon (1971)
Vanished (1971)
The Movie Murderer (1970)
Cry for Poor Wally (1969)
Mannix (1967)
Ironside (1967)
The Invaders (1967)
Felony Squad (1966)
That Girl (1966)
The F.B.I. (1965)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Gilligan's Island (1964)
The Great Adventure (1963)
Temple Houston (1963)
The Greatest Show on Earth (1963)
The Outer Limits (1963)
The Dakotas (1963)
General Electric True (1962)
Ben Casey (1961)
Ripcord (1961)
Route 66 (1960)
Thriller (1960)
The Detectives (1959)
Hawaiian Eye (1959)
Adventures in Paradise (1959)
The Twilight Zone (1959)
The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959)
Riverboat (1959)
The Deputy (1959)
Black Saddle (1959)
Rawhide (1959)
77 Sunset Strip (1958)
Lawman (1958)
The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958)
Steve Canyon (1958)
Badman's Country (1958)
The Space Children (1958)
Jefferson Drum (1958)
Wagon Train (1957)
Courage of Black Beauty (1957)
Rock All Night (1957)
Wells Fargo (1957)
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)
Kings Row (1955)
Gunsmoke (1955)
This Island Earth (1955)
Strange Lady in Town (1955)
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955)
Many Rivers to Cross (1955)
Black Tuesday (1954)
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954)
Lassie (1954)
Johnny Dark (1954)
Ride Clear of Diablo (1954)
Tumbleweed (1953)
City Detective (1953)
The Stand at Apache River (1953)
It Came from Outer Space (1953)
Column South (1953)
Law and Order (1953)
Seminole (1953)
You Are There (1953)
Back at the Front (1952)
Cavalcade of America (1952)
Adventures of Superman (1952)
The Turning Point (1952)
Loan Shark (1952)
Rancho Notorious (1952)
For Men Only (1952)
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
Lux Video Theatre (1950)
The Lone Ranger (1949)
Stevie and Zoya
God is in the Streets
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1924-11-10
Deathday2014-01-16 (89 years old)
Birth PlaceAshley, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsRussell D. Johnson, Russ Johnson
AwardsAir Medal, Purple Heart
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