Russell Johnson
Acting
Biography
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
Born: November 10, 1924
Place of Birth: Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Self (archive footage)
as Himself
as Self
as Mr. Martin
as Professor Roy Hinkley
as Oslow
as Mr. Whitby
as Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice)
as Professor
as Professor Benson
as Patrick
as Tim Murphy
as Professor
as Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
as Col. James Barrett
as Captain
as Loft
as Admiral King
as Charles Montague
as Ike
as Captain J.W. Shaw
as Detective
as Gen. George Stratemeyer
as Colonel
as Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
as The Foreman
as Forbes
as Dr. Frank Franklin
as Professor Roy Hinkley (voice)
as Alex Langley
as District Attorney
as Jim Hawley
as Mr. Calder
as Carl Jensen
as Asst D.A. Grant
as Asst. D.A. Grant
as Brenton Grant
as Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant
as Prosecutor
as DA Grant
as Clyde Morehouse
as Cliff Thomas
as Martin Lucas
as James Bernard
as Tye Laughlin
as Phillip Graham
as Jim Kellogg
as Dr. McGregor
as Scribe
as Roy "The Professor" Hinkley
as Captain Brinker
as Narrator (voice)
as Self - Narrator
as Major Benedict
as Bob Keel
as Adam Talmadge
as Lee
as Bowman
as Prof. Manion
as Pete Corrigan
as Tom Richards
as Darius
as Albee Beckett
as Marshal Gib Scott
as Burt Harvey
as Hook
as Maj. Pitch Hammer
as Sundance
as Joe Gamble
as Craig Manson
as Major Dan Marriott
as Ben Farraday
as Jigger
as William Dodd
as Hank Chapman
as Turk
as Stanger
as Harry Webb
as Diggs
as Link Parrin
as Steve Carlson
as Shadduck
as Eddie Nelson
as Banks
as Howard Sloane
as Sgt. Stan Powers
as Emory
as Jed Ringer
as Lam Blandon
as Greiner
as George
as Biddle
as Jimmy Johnson
as Lt. Hamilton
as Karl Nader
as Dan Marshall
as Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
as Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
as Herman (uncredited)
as Charlie Thompson
as Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
as Ky Walker
as Lefty
as Tom Levering