Russell Johnson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Nov 10, 1924
- Died
- Jan 16, 2014 (aged 89)
- Place of birth
- Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA
- Credits
- 128
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
Filmography
The Unknown Story
2022TV
Self - archive footage
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
2021Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Gilligan Manifesto
2018Movie
Himself
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
2001Movie
Himself
E! True Hollywood Story
1996TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
1996Movie
Steve Carlson (archive footage)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994TV
Self
Monsters
1988TV
Jeffrey
Roseanne
1988TV
Blue Movies
1988Movie
Mr. Martin
ALF
1986TV
Roy Hinkley
MacGyver
1985TV
Oslow
Off the Wall
1983Movie
Mr. Whitby
Buffalo Bill
1983TV
Dr. Murphy
Newhart
1982TV
Beaver Lodge Member
Gilligan's Planet
1982TV
Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice)
Fame
1982TV
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
1981Movie
Professor
Dynasty
1981TV
The Great Skycopter Rescue
1980Movie
Professor Benson
Bosom Buddies
1980TV
Beyond Westworld
1980TV
Patrick
Knots Landing
1979TV
Tim Murphy
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
1979Movie
Professor
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
1978Movie
Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
The Bastard
1978TV
Col. James Barrett
Police Story: No Margin for Error
1978Movie
Captain
The Ghost of Flight 401
1978Movie
Loft
Lou Grant
1977TV
MacArthur
1977Movie
Admiral King
Nowhere to Hide
1977Movie
Charles Montague
Code R
1977TV
Ike
Hitch Hike to Hell
1977Movie
Captain J.W. Shaw
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
1976TV
Detective
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
1976Movie
Gen. George Stratemeyer
Wonder Woman
1975TV
Colonel
Three Days of the Condor
1975Movie
Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
You Lie So Deep, My Love
1975Movie
The Foreman
Adventures of the Queen
1975Movie
Forbes
The Jeffersons
1975TV
Aloha Means Goodbye
1974Movie
Dr. Frank Franklin
The New Adventures of Gilligan
1974TV
Professor Roy Hinkley (voice)
The Man from Independence
1974Movie
Linaver
Beg, Borrow...or Steal
1973Movie
Alex Langley
Police Story
1973TV
Hawkins
1973TV
District Attorney
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
1973Movie
Jim Hawley
ABC Afterschool Special
1972TV
Mr. Calder
McMillan & Wife
1971TV
Carl Jensen
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971TV
Asst D.A. Grant, Asst. D.A. Grant, Brenton Grant, Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant, Prosecutor, DA Grant
Cannon
1971TV
Vanished
1971TV
Clyde Morehouse
The Movie Murderer
1970Movie
Cliff Thomas
Cry for Poor Wally
1969Movie
Mannix
1967TV
Ironside
1967TV
Martin Lucas
The Invaders
1967TV
James Bernard
Hollywood Squares
1966TV
Self
Felony Squad
1966TV
Tye Laughlin
That Girl
1966TV
The F.B.I.
1965TV
Phillip Graham, Jim Kellogg, Dr. McGregor
The Greatest Story Ever Told
1965Movie
Scribe
Gilligan's Island
1964TV
Professor
A Distant Trumpet
1964Movie
Captain Brinker
The Great Adventure
1963TV
Narrator (voice), Self - Narrator
Temple Houston
1963TV
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963TV
Dr. Arnold Andrews
The Outer Limits
1963TV
Major Benedict
The Dakotas
1963TV
General Electric True
1962TV
Ben Casey
1961TV
Ripcord
1961TV
Route 66
1960TV
Bob Keel
Thriller
1960TV
Adam Talmadge
The Detectives
1959TV
Lee
Hawaiian Eye
1959TV
Adventures in Paradise
1959TV
Bowman
The Twilight Zone
1959TV
Prof. Manion, Pete Corrigan
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959TV
Hugh, Tom Richards
Laramie
1959TV
Bob Murkland
Riverboat
1959TV
Darius
The Deputy
1959TV
Albee Beckett
Black Saddle
1959TV
Marshal Gib Scott
Rawhide
1959TV
Burt Harvey
77 Sunset Strip
1958TV
Lawman
1958TV
Steve Canyon
1958TV
Maj. Pitch Hammer
The Saga of Hemp Brown
1958Movie
Hook
Badman's Country
1958Movie
Sundance
The Space Children
1958Movie
Joe Gamble
Jefferson Drum
1958TV
The Sundown Kid
Wagon Train
1957TV
Craig Manson, Major Dan Marriott, Steve Marshall
Courage of Black Beauty
1957Movie
Ben Farraday
Rock All Night
1957Movie
Jigger
Tales of Wells Fargo
1957TV
William Dodd
Attack of the Crab Monsters
1957Movie
Hank Chapman
Crossroads
1955TV
Jack Fromer
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955TV
Turk
Kings Row
1955TV
Gunsmoke
1955TV
Stanger, Harry Webb, Diggs, Link Parrin
This Island Earth
1955Movie
Steve Carlson
Strange Lady in Town
1955Movie
Shadduck
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
1955Movie
Eddie Nelson
Many Rivers to Cross
1955Movie
Banks
Black Tuesday
1954Movie
Howard Sloane
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
1954TV
Sgt. Stan Powers
Lassie
1954TV
Johnny Dark
1954Movie
Emory
Ride Clear of Diablo
1954Movie
Jed Ringer
Tumbleweed
1953Movie
Lam Blandon
City Detective
1953TV
The Stand at Apache River
1953Movie
Greiner
It Came from Outer Space
1953Movie
George
Column South
1953Movie
Biddle
Law and Order
1953Movie
Jimmy Johnson
Seminole
1953Movie
Lt. Hamilton
You Are There
1953TV
Back at the Front
1952Movie
Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
Cavalcade of America
1952TV
Karl Nader, Dan Marshall
Adventures of Superman
1952TV
Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
The Turning Point
1952Movie
Herman (uncredited)
Loan Shark
1952Movie
Charlie Thompson
Rancho Notorious
1952Movie
Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
For Men Only
1952Movie
Ky Walker
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951TV
Lefty
Lux Video Theatre
1950TV
Carter, Lennigan
The Lone Ranger
1949TV
Tom Levering
Stevie and Zoya
TV
Narrator