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Russell Johnson

Known for: Acting

Born 10/11/1924

Died 2014-01-16

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

Filmography

Series ★ 6,3

Lassie

1954

Series ★ 6,9

Ironside

Martin Lucas

1967

Series ★ 7,0

Knots Landing

Tim Murphy

1979

Series ★ 6,6

Wagon Train

Craig Manson

1957

Series ★ 6,6

Wagon Train

Major Dan Marriott

1957

Series ★ 6,6

Wagon Train

Steve Marshall

1957

Series ★ 7,7

MacGyver

Oslow

1985

Series ★ 6,5

Dynasty

1981

Series ★ 8,5

The Twilight Zone

Prof. Manion

1959

Series ★ 8,5

The Twilight Zone

Pete Corrigan

1959

Series ★ 6,8

Mannix

1967

Series ★ 7,2

Rawhide

Burt Harvey

1959

Series ★ 6,7

Cannon

1971

Series ★ 7,2

Newhart

1982

Series ★ 6,7

Gunsmoke

Stanger

1955

Series ★ 6,7

Gunsmoke

Harry Webb

1955

Series ★ 6,7

Gunsmoke

Diggs

1955

Series ★ 6,7

Gunsmoke

Link Parrin

1955

Series ★ 5,6

The F.B.I.

Phillip Graham

1965

Series ★ 5,6

The F.B.I.

Jim Kellogg

1965

Series ★ 5,6

The F.B.I.

Dr. McGregor

1965

Series ★ 6,7

Route 66

Bob Keel

1960

Series ★ 6,7

Thriller

Adam Talmadge

1960

Series ★ 5,8

Lawman

1958

Series ★ 7,1

Tales of Wells Fargo

William Dodd

1957

Series ★ 6,7

Adventures of Superman

1952

Series ★ 6,7

Adventures of Superman

Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)

1952

Series ★ 7,4

Lou Grant

1977

Series ★ 6,9

The Invaders

James Bernard

1967

Series ★ 7,6

ALF

Roy Hinkley

1986

Series ★ 5,9

Ben Casey

1961

Series ★ 6,7

Laramie

Bob Murkland

1959

Series ★ 6,2

That Girl

1966

Series ★ 7,8

The Outer Limits

Major Benedict

1963

Series ★ 7,3

The Jeffersons

1975

Series ★ 6,8

Fame

1982

Series ★ 6,1

Adventures in Paradise

Bowman

1959

Series ★ 6,5

ABC Afterschool Special

Mr. Calder

1972

Series ★ 6,8

The Lone Ranger

Tom Levering

1949

Series ★ 5,6

Hawaiian Eye

1959

Series ★ 7,0

Monsters

Jeffrey

1988

Series ★ 7,0

Police Story

1973

Series ★ 7,8

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

Self

1994

Series ★ 7,8

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Turk

1955

Series ★ 6,5

Felony Squad

Tye Laughlin

1966

Series ★ 7,0

McMillan & Wife

Carl Jensen

1971

Series ★ 7,4

Gilligan's Island

Roy "The Professor" Hinkley

1964

Series ★ 7,2

77 Sunset Strip

1958

Series ★ 6,7

The Detectives

Lee

1959