Russell Johnson, The Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' Dies at 89, Agent Confirms
Source: The Wrap
@BreakingNews: Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dies at 89, agent confirms - @TheWrap http://t.co/GZNUDmGkkf
Russell Johnson, the Professor on Gilligans Island, Dead at 89
TV | By Josh Dickey on January 16, 2014 @ 12:15 pm
Russell Johnson, who played the professor on Gilligans Island, died Thursday morning, his agent told TheWrap. He was 89.
Johnson died at his home in Washington state of natural causes, his agent, Michael Eisenstadt said.
Born in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, Johnson graduated from a private boarding school for orphaned children before joining the Air Force, flying dozens of combat missions in World War II including one that turned him into a real-life castaway in the Philippines in 1945. Johnsons B-25 bomber was shot down by heavy flak; he broke both his ankles during the mission, and received the Purple Heart.
Johnsons acting career started nearly a decade later, with early roles in westerns and sci-fi movies and TV shows, including It Came From Outer Space, This Island Earth and Attack of the Crab Monsters. His TV career was robust through the late 1950s and early 60s, including as a regular on Black Saddle and two episodes of The Twilight Zone.
But hell be best remembered as Roy Hinkley The Professor on Gilligans Island. Johnsons unwavering, straight-man treatment of the character brought brains and gravitas to the otherwise silliness of Sherwood Schwartzs creation; it also afforded the otherwise hapless castaways a badly-needed hero, whose fix-it-with-whatevers-around approach would give way to more modern characters like Richard Dean Andersons MacGyver and spurned spy Michael Westen on Burn Notice.
Read more: http://www.thewrap.com/russell-johnson-professor-gilligans-island-dead-89/
anasv
(225 posts)AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Uh.... he wasn't the a "lead character". But Gilligan was, so.... no I don't remember.
hlthe2b
(102,360 posts)RIP, sir. A show favorite from childhood-- fortunately brought back by TVLAND for current audiences.
livetohike
(22,163 posts)of him .
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)his character had a name (other than Professor). I may have to toast him with some sort of coconut drink tonight (MFM would approve)
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)Guess my preference (at age 10) for him over Mary Ann or Ginger that should have given me a clue about my sexuality.
jmowreader
(50,562 posts)A lot of guys probably liked him better than the other characters.
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)He seemed almost otherworldly and totally unmoved by either Ginger or Mary Ann.
Yet another piece of my childhood goes. RIP Russell....
reflection
(6,286 posts)and no, that's not a pun in context of your statement. I loved his clueless deadpan delivery.
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)He could look SOOOO serious....
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)why couldnt he build a boat?
underpants
(182,879 posts)Besides a list of degrees from various schools (including USC, UCLA, SMU, and TCU) he provides in one episode, little was ever learned about his past and nothing was ever learned about his family.
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)Professor, what exactly are your degrees? Mr. Howell asked once.
Well, the Professor replied, I have a B.A. from U.S.C., a B.S. from U.C.L.A., an M.A. from S.M.U. and a Ph.D. from T.C.U.
Mr. Howell clucked in return: Well, I dont know much about your education, but it sounds like a marvelous recipe for alphabet soup.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,608 posts)edbermac
(15,947 posts)They castaways were listening to a radio report about the Minnow and listed their names, I think maybe they gave their names only 1 or 2 times after that during the series.
Skipper Jonas Grumby
Thurston Howell III
Eunice 'Lovey' Howell
Ginger Grant
Mary Ann Summers
Roy Hinkley
The radio report said the first mate was only known as Gilligan. Sherwood Schwartz the creator said he used Willy for his first name, though that was never uttered on any episode.
RIP to the Professor
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Back to back episodes each evening...I've watched since the show aired and basically have them memorized but still love them.
I noticed the date on one of the episodes last night was...1964! Oh my gosh, FIFTY years?!? Seriously?
...and this is still one of the best shows on.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)He was a professor, not a shipwright!
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)when he could spend it on a chicken dinner. But, suspending disbelief is part of the fun.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)1000words
(7,051 posts)Rest in Peace, Mr. Johnson.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)or tapping into the big under sea telephone cable...or that BIG needle for an injection!
1000words
(7,051 posts)Yah ... I wrote it.
Auggie
(31,188 posts)His Professor became an icon of "genius"
you could easily swap a picture of Einstein with Johnson and achieve the same visual communication.
A huge part of so many baby boomers lives.
tridim
(45,358 posts)Aristus
(66,462 posts)As a straight guy, I wanted to spend one night with Ginger, and a lifetime with Mary Ann.
I think a lot of guys did.
I was also a nerd, and I liked the way the Professor was smart, but also sorta cool.
RIP, Mr. Johnson...
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Thanks, Professor.
Indi Guy
(3,992 posts)Here's part 1:
closeupready
(29,503 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)R&K
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Oh my gosh...I felt so bad when I read this.
I wish you a gentle and happy journey...and time now for you and your son to catch up on old times, that were lost too soon.
My VERY best wishes and thoughts.
hlthe2b
(102,360 posts)LOL.... I loved that quote.
RIP, Russell
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Here he is with Joe Sawyer --
One of my favorite sci-fi movies!
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Boomerproud
(7,964 posts)As a previous poster noted, he is with his precious son David now.
Borchkins
(724 posts)My sons, ages 10 and 11, have just discovered Gilligan's Island on TV. They love it. The series just started over last night and they showed the very first episode where they reviewed all the characters and their complete names. It was so cool. I was wondering who was still alive.
B
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)No way he was 89 years old!! Not the professor!
RIP
Mrs. Overall
(6,839 posts)"And Kitty Carlisle tried to kiss me in the green room!"
I've always chuckled about that!
Sinnakka
(13 posts)I thought the character was so cool. My favorite episodes...When he was the dirty old man in the Jack and the beanstalk. He was hilarious.
If they ever decide to make the "movie". The aussie actor who is on the CBS show The Mentalist would be great...I think he resembles RJ a bit.
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)Thank you Russell Johnson.
Delphinus
(11,840 posts)knew the Professor's name! Wow!
Gentle crossings to you, "Professor".
Brigid
(17,621 posts)RIP, Russell Johnson.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Jimbo S
(2,960 posts)back when society still respected science and Johnson made it cool to be smart.
BTW, we were discussing at work yesterday the cast members still living. I knew Johnson, Wells and Louise were still alive. How ironic.