Gilligan's Island (1964-1967) as Professor Roy Hinkley / Professor Roy Hinckley
Santa Barbara (1984) as Roger Wainwright #3 (1991)
Black Saddle (1959-1960) as Marshal Gib Scott
This Island Earth (1955) as Dr. Steve Carlson
Short Info
Died
January 16, 2014, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States
Spouse
Constance Dane, Kay Levey, Edith Cahoon
Fact
Died at his home on Bainbridge Island, Washington State.
Russell Johnson was born on November 10, 1924, in Ashley, Pennsylvania. His parents were Russell and Minnie Johnson. He had two brothers and one sister. He attended Ashley High School, where he played football and basketball. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Pennsylvania on the G.I. Bill. He played football for the Penn Quakers and graduated with a degree in economics in 1950.
Johnson began his acting career in the early 1950s. He appeared in several Broadway productions and made his film debut in 1953’s “The Caine Mutiny”. He had supporting roles in several films throughout the 1950s, including “The Enemy Below” (1957) and “The Defiant Ones” (1958). In 1959, he landed the role of Professor Roy Hinkley on the CBS television series “Gilligan’s Island”. The show ran for three seasons and made Johnson a household name.
After “Gilligan’s Island” ended, Johnson continued to act in film and television. He appeared in such films as “The Ghost Breakers” (1970) and “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” (1981). He also guest-starred on several television shows, including “The Love Boat” (1977) and “Murder, She Wrote” (1984). In his later years, he appeared in commercials for GEICO insurance.
Johnson was married twice. His first marriage, to Louise Faulkner, ended in divorce. His second marriage, to Constance Dane, lasted from 1970 until her death in 1994. He had three children: David, Julie, and Courtney.
Johnson died on January 16, 2014, at the age of 89. At the time of his death, he had a net worth of $8 million.
General Info
Full Name
Russell Johnson
Died
January 16, 2014, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States
Profession
Navigator, Voice Actor
Education
Girard College
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Constance Dane, Kay Levey, Edith Cahoon
Children
David Johnson, Kim Johnson
Parents
Russell J. Johnson, Minnie K. Johnson
Siblings
Marian L. Johnson, Ken Johnson
Accomplishments
Awards
TV Land Pop Culture Award
Nominations
TV Land Greatest Gadgets Award
Movies
It Came from Outer Space, This Island Earth, Attack of the Crab Monsters, The Space Children, Badman's Country, Ride Clear of Diablo, Rescue from Gilligan's Island, Rock All Night, Column South, The Saga of Hemp Brown, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, Surviving Gilligan's Island, Loan Shark, Tumb...
TV Shows
Gilligan's Planet, The New Adventures of Gilligan, Gilligan's Island, Black Saddle, NBC Matinee Theater
Gunsmoke (1955), Wagon Train (1957), The Dakotas (1962) -- you name a Western, I did it. I was always the bad guy in Westerns. I played more bad guys than you can shake a stick at until I played the Professor. Then I couldn't get a job being a bad guy.
2
[about his role on Gilligan's Island (1964)] It used to make me upset to be typecast that way. But as the years have gone on, I have given in. I am the Professor, and that's the way it is. The show has brought a lot of joy to people, and that's not a bad legacy.
3
Old actors never die, they don't even fade away. They're always available.
Facts
#
Fact
1
Older brother (by one year) of character actor Ken Johnson.
2
When Sherwood Schwartz was looking for the more mature actor to play "The Professor," on Gilligan's Island (1964), Russell turned down the part, who was also asked to be screen tested for the pilot, who himself, turned Schwartz down, a second time, when the producer couldn't take "no" for an answer, therefore, Russell finally agreed to play the role.
3
Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Washington officiated Johnson's memorial service a month after his passing.
4
Parents are Russell J. and Minnie K. Johnson; had an older sister: Marian L. Johnson.
With the death of Bob Denver on September 2, 2005, he was the last surviving male cast member of Gilligan's Island (1964).
12
Immortalized by the obscure Canadian band Show Business Giants in their song, "I Can't Get Russell Johnson Off My Mind", from their 1995 album "Let's Have a Talk With the Dead".
13
Writes with his left hand.
14
Known for narrating the long-running anime series Robotech (1985).
15
Johnson and actress Dawn Wells are best known for their roles on the comedy series Gilligan's Island (1964), but they are also known for their ambiguous infamous reference "and the rest" in the series' original theme song. The phrase was later rephrased by "The Professor and Mary Ann" after protests from the actors.
16
Auditioned for the title role on the television series Ben Casey (1961), but lost out to actor Vince Edwards.
17
Served for over twelve years as an officer of the Air Force, first as an active duty World War II bombardier (1944-45) and then as an inactive member of the Officer Reserve Corps. Upon the creation of the U.S. Air Force, in the late 1940s, was augmented to the U.S. Air Force Reserve and briefly was a member of the 4th Air Reserve District in San Francisco. In 1953, became an inactive officer once again and received final discharge from the Air Force Reserve in August 1957.
18
Enlisted in the United States Army in November 1942. Was assigned the service number 13 154 406 and served for two years, before being discharged in January 1944 to accept a commission as an officer.
19
During World War II, he enlisted to become an aviation cadet and rose to the officer's rank of First Lieutenant, under the service number 765 497. Flew as bombardier in B-25 aircraft on a total of 44 combat missions over the Netherlands East Indies, and the Philippines. World War II decorations include the Bronze Star, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one service star, and the World War II Victory Medal with Honorable Service Lapel Button. Earned his Purple Heart (for injuries during battle) when the B-24 Liberator bomber he was a crewman on was shot down during a bombing run against Japanese targets in the Philippine Islands in March 1945.
Son David died of AIDS at age 39 on October 27, 1994. Before and especially since David's death, Johnson devotes a great deal his time to AIDS fund-raising.
23
Was originally best known for playing character villains, but that changed dramatically after he played the Professor on Gilligan's Island (1964), which was the diametrically opposite type of character.
24
Was enrolled in a Hollywood drama school when he was spotted by Paul Henreid, who cast him in For Men Only (1952).
25
Was a member of the National Honor Society while in high school.
