Russell Johnson
Born
November 10, 1924
Died
January 16, 2014 (89 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Ashley, 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. CLR
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Self (archive footage)
2021
The Gilligan Manifesto
Himself
2018
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Himself
2001
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Monsters
(1 episode)
1988
Roseanne
(1 episode)
1988
Blue Movies
Mr. Martin
1988
ALF
Professor Roy Hinkley · (1 episode)
1986
MacGyver
Oslow · (1 episode)
1985
Off the Wall
Mr. Whitby
1983
Newhart
(1 episode)
1982
Gilligan's Planet
Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice) · (13 episodes)
1982
Fame
(1 episode)
1982
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Professor
1981
Dynasty
(3 episodes)
1981
The Great Skycopter Rescue
Professor Benson
1980
Bosom Buddies
(1 episode)
1980
Beyond Westworld
Patrick · (2 episodes)
1980
Knots Landing
Tim Murphy · (1 episode)
1979
The Rebels
1979
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
Professor
1979
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
1978
The Bastard
Col. James Barrett
1978
Police Story: No Margin for Error
Captain
1978
The Ghost of Flight 401
Loft
1978
Lou Grant
(1 episode)
1977
MacArthur
Admiral King
1977
Nowhere to Hide
Charles Montague
1977
Code R
Ike · (1 episode)
1977
Hitch Hike to Hell
Captain J.W. Shaw
1977
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Detective · (2 episodes)
1976
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
Gen. George Stratemeyer
1976
Wonder Woman
Colonel · (1 episode)
1975
Three Days of the Condor
Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
1975
You Lie So Deep, My Love
The Foreman
1975
Adventures of the Queen
Forbes
1975
The Jeffersons
(2 episodes)
1975
Aloha Means Goodbye
Dr. Frank Franklin
1974
The New Adventures of Gilligan
Professor Roy Hinkley (voice) · (32 episodes)
1974
The Man from Independence
Linaver
1974
Beg, Borrow...or Steal
Alex Langley
1973
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
Hawkins
District Attorney · (1 episode)
1973
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
Jim Hawley
1973
ABC Afterschool Special
Mr. Calder · (1 episode)
1972
McMillan & Wife
Carl Jensen · (1 episode)
1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst D.A. Grant · (23 episodes)
1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst. D.A. Grant · (1 episode)
1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Brenton Grant · (3 episodes)
1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant · (1 episode)
1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Prosecutor · (1 episode)
1971
Cannon
(2 episodes)
1971
Vanished
Clyde Morehouse · (2 episodes)
1971
The Movie Murderer
Cliff Thomas
1970
Cry for Poor Wally
1969
Mannix
(1 episode)
1967
Ironside
Martin Lucas · (1 episode)
1967
The Invaders
James Bernard · (1 episode)
1967
Felony Squad
(1 episode)
1966
That Girl
(2 episodes)
1966
The F.B.I.
Phillip Graham · (1 episode)
1965
The F.B.I.
Jim Kellogg · (1 episode)
1965
The F.B.I.
Dr. McGregor · (1 episode)
1965
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Scribe
1965
Gilligan's Island
Roy "The Professor" Hinkley · (98 episodes)
1964
A Distant Trumpet
Captain Brinker
1964
The Great Adventure
Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
1963
The Great Adventure
Self - Narrator · (3 episodes)
1963
Temple Houston
(1 episode)
1963
The Greatest Show on Earth
Dr. Arnold Andrews · (1 episode)
1963
The Outer Limits
Major Benedict · (1 episode)
1963
The Dakotas
(1 episode)
1963
General Electric True
(1 episode)
1962
Ben Casey
(1 episode)
1961
Ripcord
(1 episode)
1961
Route 66
Bob Keel · (1 episode)
1960
Thriller
Adam Talmadge · (1 episode)
1960
The Detectives
Lee · (1 episode)
1959
Hawaiian Eye
(1 episode)
1959
Adventures in Paradise
Bowman · (1 episode)
1959
The Twilight Zone
Prof. Manion · (1 episode)
1959
The Twilight Zone
Pete Corrigan · (1 episode)
1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Hugh · (1 episode)
1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Tom Richards · (1 episode)
1959
Riverboat
Darius · (1 episode)
1959
The Deputy
Albee Beckett · (1 episode)
1959
Black Saddle
Marshal Gib Scott · (44 episodes)
1959
Rawhide
Burt Harvey · (1 episode)
1959
77 Sunset Strip
(1 episode)
1958
Lawman
(1 episode)
1958
The Saga of Hemp Brown
Hook
1958
Steve Canyon
Maj. Pitch Hammer · (1 episode)
1958
Badman's Country
Sundance
1958
The Space Children
Joe Gamble
1958
Jefferson Drum
The Sundown Kid · (1 episode)
1958
Wagon Train
Craig Manson · (1 episode)
1957
Courage of Black Beauty
Ben Farraday
1957
Rock All Night
Jigger
1957
Tales of Wells Fargo
William Dodd · (1 episode)
1957
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Hank Chapman
1957
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Turk · (1 episode)
1955
Kings Row
(1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Stanger · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Harry Webb · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Diggs · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Link Parrin · (1 episode)
1955
This Island Earth
Steve Carlson
1955
Strange Lady in Town
Shadduck
1955
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
Eddie Nelson
1955
Many Rivers to Cross
Banks
1955
Black Tuesday
Howard Sloane
1954
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Sgt. Stan Powers · (1 episode)
1954
Lassie
(4 episodes)
1954
Johnny Dark
Emory
1954
Ride Clear of Diablo
Jed Ringer
1954
Tumbleweed
Lam Blandon
1953
City Detective
(1 episode)
1953
The Stand at Apache River
Greiner
1953
It Came from Outer Space
George
1953
Column South
Biddle
1953
Law and Order
Jimmy Johnson
1953
Seminole
Lt. Hamilton
1953
You Are There
(1 episode)
1953
Back at the Front
Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
1952
Cavalcade of America
Karl Nader · (1 episode)
1952
Cavalcade of America
Dan Marshall · (1 episode)
1952
Adventures of Superman
(1 episode)
1952
Adventures of Superman
Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1952
The Turning Point
Herman (uncredited)
1952
Loan Shark
Charlie Thompson
1952
Rancho Notorious
Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
1952
For Men Only
Ky Walker
1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Lefty · (1 episode)
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Carter · (1 episode)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Lennigan · (1 episode)
1950
The Lone Ranger
Tom Levering · (1 episode)
1949
Stevie and Zoya
Narrator · (0 episode)