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 Gilligans 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 B25 twinengined medium bombers On March 4 1945 while flying as a navigator in a B25 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron 42nd Bombardment Group 13th Air Force his B25 and two others were shot down during a lowlevel bombing and strafing run against Japanese military targets in the Philippine Islands The B25s encountered heavy antiaircraft fire and all three had to ditch in the sea off Zamboanga Johnson broke both ankles in the landing and his bombers copilot was killed Johnson received a Purple Heart for his injuries He was also awarded the Air Medal the AsiaticPacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one campaign star and the World War II Victory Medal After Japans surrender Johnson was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22 1945 He joined the United States Air Force Reserve and used the GI Bill to pay for his acting studies at the Actors Lab in Hollywood While there he met actress Kay Cousins 19231980 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 Badmans 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 Cormans rocknroll 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 Gilligans Island The Professor on Gilligans 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 wellknown scoutmaster Gilligans Island aired from 196467 but has been shown in reruns continuously ever since CLR
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