Russell Johnson

Russell Johnson Black Saddle 1960

Russell Johnson
Born	Russell David Johnson (1924-11-10)November 10, 1924 Ashley, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 16, 2014(2014-01-16) (aged 89) Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950–1997
Children	3

Russell David Johnson (November 10, 1924 – January 16, 2014) was an American actor, best known for his role as "The Professor" on the television sitcom Gilligan's Island.

Early life

Johnson was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1924. He was the eldest of seven children. After his father died when he was eight years old, his mother sent him and two of his brothers to Girard College, a private boarding school for orphaned boys in Philadelphia.

Military service

During World War II, Johnson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He served as a bombardier in the Pacific Theater and flew 44 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Acting career

After the war, Johnson used the G.I. Bill to pay for his acting studies at the Actors' Lab in Hollywood, California. He began his career in the early 1950s, appearing in Western films and television series.

Gilligan's Island

Johnson is best known for his role as Professor Roy Hinkley, often referred to simply as "The Professor," on the television sitcom Gilligan's Island. The show aired from 1964 to 1967 and became a syndicated hit. The Professor was a high school science teacher who could build all sorts of inventions from the limited resources available on the island, but could not repair the hole in the boat to enable the castaways to leave.

Later career

After Gilligan's Island, Johnson continued to work in television, appearing in shows such as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Gunsmoke. He also appeared in several films, including MacArthur and Blue Angels.

Personal life

Johnson was married three times and had three children. He was an advocate for AIDS research after his son David died of complications from the disease in 1994.

Death

Russell Johnson died of kidney failure at his home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, on January 16, 2014, at the age of 89.

Filmography

Film

• It Came from Outer Space (1953)
• This Island Earth (1955)
• MacArthur (1977)

Television

• Gilligan's Island (1964–1967)
• The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
• Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

See also

• Gilligan's Island
• List of Gilligan's Island episodes
• List of The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series) episodes

External links

Russell Johnson on IMDb