TV’s Most Famous Professor Dies at Age 89
When I heard that actor Russell Johnson had passed away, I emailed Leslie and told her that I really wanted to cover this story. I grew up watching Gilligan’s Island and the Professor was my favorite character. Leslie felt the same way so we’re both sad about his passing.
CNN reported.
‘Gilligan’s Island’ Professor, actor Russell Johnson, dead at 89
Actor Russell Johnson, best known as Professor in the 1960s TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Thursday, his agent said. Johnson was 89.
Johnson played the iconic role of Professor Roy Hinkley, whose scientific schemes to get the castaways rescued were always foiled by Gilligan’s bumbling.
He died at his home in Washington, where he lived with his wife, Connie. She and their daughter, Kimberly, were at his side, said agent Mike Eisenstadt. Johnson is also survived by a stepson, Court, and a grandson, he said.
Johnson worked up until his death, signing autographs over the holidays, said Eisenstadt. He called Johnson’s death “unexpected.”
The chief deputy coroner in Kitsap County, Washington, told CNN that Johnson died from natural causes.
Johnson was “just a positive and nice guy” who always treated people with respect, his agent said.
His acting career began in the early 1950s with many jobs as a character actor on television. He played Marshal Gib Scott in two seasons of “Black Saddle,” a Western that ran in 1959 and 1960.
Johnson acted in dozens of television shows after the four seasons on “Gilligan’s Island,” but his career seemed stranded on its own island because of the popular sitcom role.
A noteworthy big screen role was as a nuclear physicist in the 1955 science fiction film “This Island Earth.”
Johnson was in Ray Bradbury’s 1953 sci-fi classic “It Came From Outer Space.”
Before becoming an actor, Johnson served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was on a B-24 Liberator when it was shot down during a bombing raid over the Philippines in 1945, according to his official biography, and used his G.I. Bill benefits to pay for acting school after the war.
Comments
Aaahhh, Professor Roy Hinkley, so said on their radio soon after their 3 hour tour ended. A few years back, I played many Gilligan’s Island episodes from Hulu for my kids. As an adult, I was drawn more to the acting and characters of the Professor and Thurston Howell III. Funny thing too, this time around, I was actually able to understand many of the “egghead” things the Professor had to say.
Johnson seems to have been a good guy. He served in combat during WWII. His first marriage ended with the end of the war. His second marriage ended with the death of his wife. His third marriage ended with his own death. His legacy is two children, service, and entertainment. He lived a long and fruitful life. RIP