Russell Johnson, The Professor From Gilligan's Island, Dies

Russell Johnson from Gilligan’s Island died at the age of 89. Russell’s Johnson’s wife Constance confirmed the press that the actor died Thursday morning of kidney failure, saying "He died at home, peaceful, in his sleep at 5:21 am today. (He was) a very brave guy who knew what he wanted, and he wanted to be at home."

Russell Johnson is best known for the role of Roy Hinkley on Gilligan’s Island. Roy Hinkley was best known as the Professor. He was the smart one, knew how to make a radio out of coconuts, but not how to fix the tiny ship that stranded the castaways on the tiny island. Gilligan’s Island starred Bob Denver as Gilligan, Alan Hale Jr as the Skipper, Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer as millionaire couple Thurston Howell III and Lovey, Tina Louise played Hollywood starlet Ginger Grant. Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells were known as either the Professor and Maryann or “and the rest” depending on which version of the theme song was playing.

Dawn Wells posted to Facebook, "My 2 favorite people are now gone. The professor past (sic) away this morning. My heart is broken. Russell was a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend..."

Gilligan Island ran for three years on CBS from September 26, 1964, to September 4, 1967. It was so popular three made-for-television movies came out of it Rescue From Gilligan's Island in 1978, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island from 1979 and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island starring Mission Impossible’s Martin Landau as the villain in 1981. Tina Louise was not always on board. Johnson almost had to show his chest when he auditioned for the Gilligan's Island role and made producer Sherwood Schwartz promise that whatever he said as a scientist made sense. Bob Denver, who also played Maynard on The Lives and Loves of Dobie Gillis, died in 2005. Alan Hale Jr., who was the son of famed Warner Bros. second banana, Alan Hale, died in 1990. Jim Backus, who was also Mr. Magoo and James Dean’s dad in Rebel Without a Cause, died in 1989.

Johnson was from northeastern Pennsylvania and served in World War II before he got into acting. He went Hollywood in 1952. Johnson was a friend of war hero turned actor Audie Murphy and appeared in the films Column South, Tumbleweed and Ride Clear of Diablo with him. Johnson appeared with George Raft in Loan Shark. Russell Johnson made several Science Fiction classics including It Came from Outer Space in 1953 and This Island Earth in 1955, Attack of the Crab Monsters in 1956, and The Space Children in 1958.  Johnson had a recurring role as Marshal Gib Scott on the western series, Black Saddle.

Johnson appeared in two Time Travel episodes on The Twilight Zone. In “Back There,” Johnson tried to save Abraham Lincoln and in "Execution" he played a, well, a professor.  He also played on Outer Limits.

Johnson told Starlog magazine that he always wanted to be on Star Trek. Johnson’s memoirs were called Here on Gilligan's Isle.

Russell Johnson leaves behind his wife and a daughter, Kim.

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