Acting · Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA · Born November 10, 1924
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
TVThe Unknown Story
2022
as Self - archive footage
MovieHollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Gilligan Manifesto
2018
as Himself
MovieSurviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
2001
as Himself
TVE! True Hollywood Story
1996
MovieMystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
1996
as Steve Carlson (archive footage)
TVSpace Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
as Self
TVMonsters
1988
as Jeffrey
TVRoseanne
1988
MovieBlue Movies
1988
as Mr. Martin
TVALF
1986
as Roy Hinkley
TVMacGyver
1985
as Oslow
MovieOff the Wall
1983
as Mr. Whitby
TVNewhart
1982
TVGilligan's Planet
1982
as Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice)
TVFame
1982
MovieThe Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
1981
as Professor
TVDynasty
1981
MovieThe Great Skycopter Rescue
1980
as Professor Benson
TVBosom Buddies
1980
TVBeyond Westworld
1980
as Patrick
TVKnots Landing
1979
as Tim Murphy
MovieThe Castaways on Gilligan's Island
1979
as Professor
MovieRescue from Gilligan's Island
1978
as Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
TVThe Bastard
1978
as Col. James Barrett
MoviePolice Story: No Margin for Error
1978
as Captain
MovieThe Ghost of Flight 401
1978
as Loft
TVLou Grant
1977
MovieMacArthur
1977
as Admiral King
MovieNowhere to Hide
1977
as Charles Montague
TVCode R
1977
as Ike
MovieHitch Hike to Hell
1977
as Captain J.W. Shaw
TVRich Man, Poor Man - Book II
1976
as Detective
MovieCollision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
1976
as Gen. George Stratemeyer
TVWonder Woman
1975
as Colonel
MovieThree Days of the Condor
1975
as Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
MovieYou Lie So Deep, My Love
1975
as The Foreman
MovieAdventures of the Queen
1975
as Forbes
TVThe Jeffersons
1975
MovieAloha Means Goodbye
1974
as Dr. Frank Franklin
TVThe New Adventures of Gilligan
1974
as Professor Roy Hinkley (voice)
The Man from Independence
1974
as Linaver
MovieBeg, Borrow...or Steal
1973
as Alex Langley
TVPolice Story
1973
TVHawkins
1973
as District Attorney
MovieThe Horror at 37,000 Feet
1973
as Jim Hawley
TVABC Afterschool Special
1972
as Mr. Calder
TVMcMillan & Wife
1971
as Carl Jensen
TVOwen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
as Asst D.A. Grant
TVCannon
1971
TVVanished
1971
as Clyde Morehouse
MovieThe Movie Murderer
1970
as Cliff Thomas
MovieCry for Poor Wally
1969
TVMannix
1967
TVIronside
1967
as Martin Lucas
TVThe Invaders
1967
as James Bernard
TVFelony Squad
1966
as Tye Laughlin
TVThat Girl
1966
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Phillip Graham
MovieThe Greatest Story Ever Told
1965
as Scribe
TVGilligan's Island
1964
as Roy "The Professor" Hinkley
MovieA Distant Trumpet
1964
as Captain Brinker
TVThe Great Adventure
1963
as Narrator (voice)
TVTemple Houston
1963
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963
as Dr. Arnold Andrews
TVThe Outer Limits
1963
as Major Benedict
TVThe Dakotas
1963
TVGeneral Electric True
1962
TVBen Casey
1961
TVRipcord
1961
TVRoute 66
1960
as Bob Keel
TVThriller
1960
as Adam Talmadge
TVThe Detectives
1959
as Lee
TVHawaiian Eye
1959
TVAdventures in Paradise
1959
as Bowman
TVThe Twilight Zone
1959
as Prof. Manion
TVThe DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Hugh
TVRiverboat
1959
as Darius
TVThe Deputy
1959
as Albee Beckett
TVBlack Saddle
1959
as Marshal Gib Scott
TVRawhide
1959
as Burt Harvey
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
TVLawman
1958
TVSteve Canyon
1958
as Maj. Pitch Hammer
MovieThe Saga of Hemp Brown
1958
as Hook
MovieBadman's Country
1958
as Sundance
MovieThe Space Children
1958
as Joe Gamble
Jefferson Drum
1958
as The Sundown Kid
TVWagon Train
1957
as Craig Manson
MovieCourage of Black Beauty
1957
as Ben Farraday
MovieRock All Night
1957
as Jigger
TVTales of Wells Fargo
1957
as William Dodd
MovieAttack of the Crab Monsters
1957
as Hank Chapman
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Turk
Kings Row
1955
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Stanger
MovieThis Island Earth
1955
as Steve Carlson
MovieStrange Lady in Town
1955
as Shadduck
MovieMa and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
1955
as Eddie Nelson
MovieMany Rivers to Cross
1955
as Banks
MovieBlack Tuesday
1954
as Howard Sloane
TVThe Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
1954
as Sgt. Stan Powers
TVLassie
1954
MovieJohnny Dark
1954
as Emory
MovieRide Clear of Diablo
1954
as Jed Ringer
MovieTumbleweed
1953
as Lam Blandon
TVCity Detective
1953
MovieThe Stand at Apache River
1953
as Greiner
MovieIt Came from Outer Space
1953
as George
MovieColumn South
1953
as Biddle
MovieLaw and Order
1953
as Jimmy Johnson
MovieSeminole
1953
as Lt. Hamilton
TVYou Are There
1953
MovieBack at the Front
1952
as Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
TVCavalcade of America
1952
as Karl Nader
TVAdventures of Superman
1952
MovieThe Turning Point
1952
as Herman (uncredited)
MovieLoan Shark
1952
as Charlie Thompson
MovieRancho Notorious
1952
as Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
MovieFor Men Only
1952
as Ky Walker
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Lefty
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Carter
TVThe Lone Ranger
1949
as Tom Levering
Stevie and Zoya
as Narrator
