Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: Russell D. Johnson , Russ Johnson

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 38

TV Involvements: 39


Most Famous Work

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

Most Famous Work

Cavalcade of America
Average
4

Cavalcade of America

(1952) Dan Marshall
Adventures in Paradise
Average
6

Adventures in Paradise

(1959) Bowman
The Twilight Zone
Average
8

The Twilight Zone

(1959) Pete Corrigan
Rawhide
Average
7

Rawhide

(1959) Burt Harvey
ABC Afterschool Special
Average
6

ABC Afterschool Special

(1972) Mr. Calder
The Outer Limits
Average
8

The Outer Limits

(1963) Major Benedict
Wells Fargo
Average
7

Wells Fargo

(1957) William Dodd
Thriller
Average
6

Thriller

(1960) Adam Talmadge

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2018 Himself
2001 Himself
1996 N/A
1994 Self
1988 N/A
N/A
Mr. Martin
1986 Professor Roy Hinkley
1985 N/A
1983 Mr. Whitby
1982 N/A
N/A
N/A
1981 Professor
N/A
1980 Professor Benson
N/A
Patrick
1979 N/A
N/A
Professor
1978 Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
Col. James Barrett
Captain
Loft
1977 N/A
Admiral King
Charles Montague
Ike
Captain J.W. Shaw
1976 Detective
Gen. George Stratemeyer
1975 Colonel
Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
The Foreman
Forbes
N/A
1974 Dr. Frank Franklin
N/A
Linaver
1973 N/A
Alex Langley
District Attorney
Jim Hawley
1972 Mr. Calder
1971 N/A
Asst D.A. Grant
N/A
Clyde Morehouse
1970 Cliff Thomas
1969 N/A
1967 N/A
N/A
James Bernard
1966 N/A
N/A
1965 Phillip Graham
Jim Kellogg
Dr. McGregor
Scribe
1964 Roy "The Professor" Hinkley
1963 Narrator (voice)
Self - Narrator
N/A
N/A
Major Benedict
N/A
1962 N/A
1961 N/A
N/A
1960 Bob Keel
Adam Talmadge
1959 N/A
N/A
Bowman
Prof. Manion
Pete Corrigan
Hugh
Tom Richards
Darius
Albee Beckett
Marshal Gib Scott
Burt Harvey
1958 N/A
N/A
Hook
Sundance
Joe Gamble
The Sundown Kid
1957 Craig Manson
Ben Farraday
Jigger
William Dodd
Hank Chapman
1955 Turk
N/A
Stanger
Harry Webb
Diggs
Link Parrin
Steve Carlson
Shadduck
Eddie Nelson
Banks
1954 Howard Sloane
Sgt. Stan Powers
N/A
Emory
Jed Ringer
1953 Lam Blandon
N/A
Greiner
George
Biddle
Jimmy Johnson
Lt. Hamilton
N/A
1952 Karl Nader
Dan Marshall
Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
N/A
Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
Herman (uncredited)
Charlie Thompson
Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
Ky Walker
1951 Lefty
1950 Carter
Year Character Movie/Tv

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