Russell Johnson
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Russell Johnson | |
---|---|
Born | Russell David Johnson November 10, 1924 Ashley, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | January 16, 2014 | (aged 89)
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 |
Spouses |
|
Children | 3 |
Russell David Johnson (November 10, 1924 – January 16, 2014) was an American actor. He played Professor Roy Hinkley in Gilligan's Island and Marshal Gib Scott in Black Saddle.
Early life
Johnson was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1924,[1][2] to Russell Kennedy Johnson (1901–1932) and Marion Wenonah Smink Johnson (1902–1976).
Johnson was the eldest of seven siblings: Kenneth Walter Johnson (1925–2012), David Reed Johnson (1926–1976), Lois Marion Johnson (1927–1928), Lorraine Johnson Crosby (1928-2015), Marion Joan Johnson Reeves (1930–2010), and Paul Wesley Johnson (1932–1933).[2] His father Russell died of lobar pneumonia and influenza on December 13, 1932, and his brother Paul also died of lobar pneumonia on January 5 the following year. His mother Minnie remarried after 10 years to Thomas S. Lewis.
As a teenager, Johnson attended Girard College, a private boarding school for fatherless boys, located in Philadelphia.[1]
Military career
After graduating from high school, Johnson enlisted in the
On March 4, 1945, while flying as a navigator in a B-25 with the
Johnson was honorably discharged as a
Movie, television, and radio career
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After his honorable discharge from the military, Johnson used the
Johnson became a close friend of
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 the Skipper from Gilligan's Island. Johnson and Hale also appeared together in an episode of the TV series Casey Jones, Season 1 Episode 20 "The Track Walker".
During the 1950s, he played the head of a gang of crooks in episode 17 of season one of The Adventures of Superman (originally broadcast in January 1953, filmed in 1951). Johnson was also cast on the religion anthology series Crossroads.
In 1957 he played a ruthless and heartless murdering outlaw named "Stragger" on the TV Western Gunsmoke in the episode "Bloody Hands" (S2E21), where he almost convinces Matt Dillon to quit from guilt because of his own constant need to kill. He returned to that series in 1959 as “Harry Webb” in the episode “The Bear”. He also played the Sundown Kid in an episode of the 1958 NBC's Western series Jefferson Drum and guest-starred in another NBC Western series, The Californians. He appeared in episodes of Wagon Train,[6][7] "The Beauty Jamison Story" and "The Cliff Grundy Story."
He appeared four times on the first-run syndicated military drama The Silent Service, based on actual stories of the
From January 1959 to May 1960, Johnson co-starred as Marshal Gib Scott on the television series Black Saddle, which lasted two seasons—its first on NBC and its second on ABC.
Twilight Zone and Outer Limits episodes
Johnson appeared in two episodes of The Twilight Zone. His character brings a murderer from 1880 into the present via a time machine in the season-one episode "Execution". In the season-two episode "Back There", his character, Peter Corrigan, attempts to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The plot of both episodes involved time travel from the 20th to the 19th centuries. Johnson also appeared on The Outer Limits in 1964, playing a crewmember on a United States space station in the episode "Specimen: Unknown".
"The Professor" on Gilligan's Island
Johnson was best known for playing Professor Roy Hinkley (usually called the "
It used to make me upset to be typecast as the Professor...But as the years have gone by, I've given in. I am the Professor, and that's the way it is...Besides, the show went into syndication and parents are happy to have their children watch the reruns. No one gets hurt. There are no murders, no car crashes. Just good, plain, silly fun. It's brought a lot of joy to people, and that's not a bad legacy.[8]
After Gilligan's Island
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After Gilligan's Island, Johnson found himself somewhat typecast, making portraying more unsophisticated roles other than his signature role as the Professor more difficult. Nevertheless, he was able to resume a sufficient acting career,
Johnson had a brief appearance in
In an interview with Starlog magazine in the early 1980s, Johnson said that he had wanted to appear in the original Star Trek during its run on NBC from 1966 to 1969, but he was never cast. An episode of CBS' Newhart featured the Beavers (a men's organization) watching a Gilligan's Island episode on television. When they are suddenly evicted from the room, one of them, portrayed by Johnson, protests, "I want to see how it ends!" He is assured that the castaways do not get off the island. Johnson also played the sheriff in several episodes of season 9 of Dallas. His character in that series did not return in season 10, however, as season 9 turned out to be the infamous "dream season". In the late 1980s horror TV series Monsters, Johnson played an elder scientist in the episode Sleeping Dragon, in which he tries communicating with an ancient humanoid dinosaur that was awakened after a 65 million years-long slumber.
Johnson entertained fans at the 1996
Johnson once participated in the
Johnson had a number of guest roles in the radio series The Adventures of Harry Nile, one of the "Imagination Theater" series produced by Jim French.
Personal life
Johnson was married three times. His first marriage, to Edith Cahoon in 1943, ended in divorce in 1948.[2]
In 1949 he married his second wife,
In 1982, Johnson married Constance "Connie" Dane, and became stepfather to her son, Courtney Dane.[9] It was here that Johnson collaborated with writer Steve Cox on the memoir, Here on Gilligan's Isle, published in 1993.[2][10]
Russell's son David Johnson died of AIDS-related complications on October 27, 1994.[11] After his son's diagnosis with AIDS, Johnson frequently helped raise money for AIDS charities.[12]
Death
Johnson died from kidney failure at his home in Bainbridge Island, Washington, on January 16, 2014, aged 89.[13] His remains were cremated. Johnson's memorial service was held a month later.[14]
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1952 | For Men Only | Ky Walker | |
1952 | Rancho Notorious | Chuck-a-Luck Wheel Spinner | Uncredited |
1952 | Loan Shark | Charlie Thompson | |
1952 | Back at the Front | Johnny Redondo - Smuggler | |
1952 | The Turning Point | Herman | Uncredited |
1953 | Seminole | Lieutenant Hamilton | |
1953 | Law and Order | Jimmy Johnson | |
1953 | Column South | Corporal Biddle | |
1953 | It Came from Outer Space | George | |
1953 | The Stand at Apache River | Greiner | |
1953 | Tumbleweed | Lam Blanden | |
1954 | Ride Clear of Diablo | Jed Ringer | |
1954 | Taza, Son of Cochise | Narrator | Voice, Uncredited |
1954 | Demetrius and the Gladiators | Gladiator | Uncredited |
1954 | Johnny Dark |
Emory | |
1954 | Rogue Cop | Patrolman Carland | Uncredited |
1954 | Black Tuesday | Howard Sloane | |
1955 | Many Rivers to Cross | Banks Cherne | |
1955 | Strange Lady in Town | Shadduck | |
1955 | Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki | Eddie Nelson | |
1955 | This Island Earth | Dr. Steve Carlson | |
1957 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Turk | Season 2 Episode 29: "Vicious Circle" |
1957 | Gunsmoke "Bloody Hands" | Joe Stanger | |
1957 | Attack of the Crab Monsters | Hank Chapman | |
1957 | Rock All Night | Jigger | |
1957 | Courage of Black Beauty | Ben Farraday | |
1958 | The Space Children | Joe Gamble | |
1958 | Badman's Country | Sundance | |
1958 | The Saga of Hemp Brown | Hook | |
1960 | The Twilight Zone | Professor Manion | Execution - Season 1 Episode 26 |
1964 | A Distant Trumpet | Captain Brinker - Judge Advocate's office | |
1964 | Invitation to a Gunfighter | John Medford | Uncredited |
1964-67 | Gilligan's Island | The Professor | 1964-67 TV Series |
1965 | The Greatest Story Ever Told | Scribe | |
1967 | ‘’The Invaders’’ | Mr. Bernard / The Defense Attorney / Alien Invader | The Trial - Season 2 Episode 6 |
1969 | Cry for Poor Wally | Gaines | |
1969 | Gunsmoke | Diggs | The Long Night (1969 episode) |
1970 | That Girl | Jon (the pilot) | |
1974 | The Man from Independence | Linaver | |
1975 | Three Days of the Condor | Intelligence Officer at Briefing | Uncredited |
1977 | Hitch Hike to Hell | Captain J.W. Shaw | |
1977 | MacArthur | Admiral King | |
1978 | Wonder Woman | Colonel | Disco Devil (1978 Episode) |
1980 | The Great Skycopter Rescue | Professor Benson | |
1982 | Kill Squad | Voice, uncredited | |
1983 | Off the Wall | Mr. Whitby | |
1986 | Dōwa Meita Senshi Windaria | Alan | 1987 English version; voice, uncredited |
1986 | MacGyver | Oslow | Ugly Duckling (1986 episode) |
1988 | Blue Movies | Mr. Martin |
References
- ^ a b Weber, Bruce (2014-01-16). "Russell Johnson, the Professor On 'Gilligan's Island', Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
- ^ a b c d Bernstein, Adam (2014-01-16). "Russell Johnson, actor who played the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dies at 89". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ "Russell Johnson, Professor on Gilligan's Island, and WWII Hero Passes at 89". Guardian Of Valor. 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "Russell David Johnson". Together We Served. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ Weber, Bruce (January 17, 2014), "Russell Johnson, 89, of 'Gilligan's Island' dies on Bainbridge", The Seattle Times
- ^ ""Wagon Train" the Beauty Jamison Story (TV Episode 1958) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ The Beauty Jamison Story
- ^ a b Kashatus, William C. "Ashley native Russell Johnson rose to fame on Gilligan's Island". The Citizens' Voice. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ Lowe, Lindsay (2014-01-16). "Gilligan's Island Actor Russell Johnson, 'The Professor', Dies at 89". Parade. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ Thomas, Bob; et al. (2016-03-25). "Russell Johnson Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ "Dave Johnson, 39; L.A.'s First AIDS Coordinator, Writer on Gay Issues". Los Angeles Times. 1994-10-29. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
- ^ Chappell, Bill (2019-01-19). "Gilligan's 'The Professor' Has Died; Russell Johnson Was 89". NPR. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ Messer, Lesley (January 16, 2014). "Gilligan's Island Star Russell Johnson Dies of Kidney Failure". ABC News. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ^ "Memorial service announced for Russell Johnson, the Professor". Bainbridge Island Review. 2014-01-31. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
Further reading
- Johnson, Russell and Cox, Steve. Here on Gilligan's Isle. New York: Perennial, 1993.