Russell Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russell Johnson
Johnson in Black Saddle (1960)
Born	Russell David Johnson (1924-11-10)November 10, 1924 Ashley, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 16, 2014(2014-01-16) (aged 89) Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950–1997
Known for	Gilligan's Island as Professor Roy Hinkley This Island Earth Rescue from Gilligan's Island The Castaways on Gilligan's Island The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Spouse(s)	Edith Cahoon ​ ​ (m. 1943; div. 1948)​ Kay Cousins ​ ​ (m. 1949; died 1980)​ Constance Dane ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	3

Russell David Johnson (born November 10, 1924 – died January 16, 2014) was an American actor. He was best known for playing Professor Roy Hinkley on the famous TV show Gilligan's Island. He also played Marshal Gib Scott in the TV series Black Saddle.

Russell Johnson's Early Life

Johnson was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1924. His parents were Russell Kennedy Johnson and Marion Wenonah Smink Johnson.

Russell was the oldest of seven children. Sadly, his father and two of his younger brothers passed away when Russell was very young. His mother later remarried.

As a teenager, Johnson went to Girard College. This was a private boarding school in Philadelphia for boys whose fathers had passed away.

Russell Johnson's Military Service

After finishing high school, Johnson joined the United States Army Air Forces. He became an aviation cadet and later a second lieutenant.

He flew 44 combat missions during World War II in the Pacific Ocean area. He was a bombardier in B-25 bombers.

On March 4, 1945, Johnson's plane and two others were shot down. This happened during a bombing mission against Japanese targets in the Philippine Islands. All three planes had to land in the sea. Johnson broke both his ankles when his plane landed. He received a Purple Heart medal for his injuries. He also earned other awards, including the Air Medal.

Johnson was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22, 1945. He then joined the United States Air Force Reserve.

Russell Johnson's Acting Career

After leaving the military, Johnson used the G.I. Bill to study acting. He attended the Actors' Lab in Hollywood.

Johnson became good friends with actor Audie Murphy. He appeared with Murphy in three movies: Column South, Tumbleweed, and Ride Clear of Diablo. Johnson's acting career in Hollywood began in 1952. His first films were For Men Only and Loan Shark.

Early Roles in Movies and TV

Johnson often played roles in Westerns. Some of these included Rancho Notorious (1952) and Law and Order (1953). He also appeared in science fiction films like It Came from Outer Space (1953) and This Island Earth (1955).

In 1955, he was in Many Rivers to Cross with Alan Hale Jr.. Alan Hale Jr. later played the Skipper on Gilligan's Island. Johnson and Hale also appeared together in an episode of the TV series Casey Jones.

During the 1950s, Johnson appeared in many TV shows. He was in an episode of The Adventures of Superman. He also guest-starred in Westerns like Gunsmoke, Jefferson Drum, and Wagon Train.

He appeared four times on the military drama The Silent Service. This show was based on real stories from the submarine section of the United States Navy. He also guest-starred with William Shatner in an episode of Thriller in 1961.

From 1959 to 1960, Johnson co-starred as Marshal Gib Scott in the TV series Black Saddle.

Twilight Zone and Outer Limits Appearances

Johnson appeared in two episodes of The Twilight Zone. In both episodes, his character was involved in time travel. In "Execution", he brings a murderer from the past to the present. In "Back There", his character tries to stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Johnson also appeared on The Outer Limits in 1964. He played a crewmember on a United States space station in the episode "Specimen: Unknown".

Becoming "The Professor" on Gilligan's Island

Johnson is most famous for playing Professor Roy Hinkley on Gilligan's Island. People usually just called him "the Professor". He was a very smart person who knew a lot about many things. He could build amazing inventions using only simple materials found on the island. However, as Johnson himself joked, the Professor could never fix the hole in the boat!

The show Gilligan's Island aired from 1964 to 1967. It has been shown in reruns ever since, meaning it's still popular today. Johnson played the Professor again in three TV movies and two animated series based on Gilligan's Island.

Life After Gilligan's Island

After Gilligan's Island, it was sometimes hard for Johnson to get different types of roles. People often saw him only as the Professor. But he still had a good acting career. He appeared in many other movies and TV shows.

He was a guest star in dramatic series like The Big Valley, The Invaders, and Ironside. He also appeared in the TV horror movie The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973). He had a small, uncredited role in the spy movie Three Days of the Condor (1975).

In 1977, Johnson played Admiral Ernest J. King in the movie MacArthur. He also appeared in the TV movies The Ghost of Flight 401 and The Bastard in 1978.

Later, Johnson played the sheriff in several episodes of Dallas. In the late 1980s, he was in the horror TV series Monsters. He played an older scientist who tried to talk to an ancient dinosaur.

Johnson also entertained fans at a convention for MST3K. He was there because of his role in This Island Earth, a movie featured on the show. However, most people asked him questions about his Gilligan's Island days.

Russell Johnson's Personal Life

Johnson was married three times. His first marriage to Edith Cahoon ended in 1948.

In 1949, he married Kay Cousins. They met while studying acting. They had a daughter named Kim and a son named David. Kay passed away in 1980.

In 1982, Johnson married Constance "Connie" Dane. He became a stepfather to her son, Courtney. With writer Steve Cox, Johnson wrote a book about his life called "Here on Gilligan's Isle", published in 1993.

Sadly, Russell's son David passed away in 1994 due to complications from AIDS. After his son's diagnosis, Johnson often helped raise money for charities that supported AIDS research and awareness.

Russell Johnson's Passing

Russell Johnson passed away from kidney failure at his home in Bainbridge Island, Washington, on January 16, 2014. He was 89 years old. His memorial service was held a month later.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Russell Johnson para niños