Russell Johnson Bio, Net Worth, Gilligan’s Island, The Professor, Movies & TV Shows, Age, Cause of Death

His mother Marion later remarried Thomas S. Lewis. After his father's death, Russell was sent to Girard College, an all-boys private boarding school in Philadelphia. Russell Johnson in the Army He joined the United States Army Air Force (then named US Army Air Corps) as an aviation cadet and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. During World War II, Russell flew 44 combat missions in the Pacific as a B-25 bombardier.

Flying as a navigator in March 1945, his B-25 was shot down by Japanese troops somewhere in the Philippines. He and two colleagues, a bomber and a co-pilot had to land in the sea off Zamboanga. The emergency landing killed the bomber's co-pilot and broke both Johnson's ankles.

Johnson received multiple awards; a Purple Heart, the Air Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal. In November 1945, he joined the US Air Force Reserve and used his GI Bill to study at the Actor's Laboratory Theatre in Hollywood. Russell Johnson: Early Career He started doing action on screen, appearing as a sailor in the short-lived TV series Fireside Theater in 1950.

He also acted as a gangster in an episode of The Adventures of Superman, filmed in 1951, but broadcast only two years later. His first film was 'For Men Only', a drama about fraternity hazing, where Johnson played a sadistic fraternity head, in 1952.

Succeeding roles for Russell were mainly in Westerns an action movie genre teeming with cowboys, horses, guns and shootouts. In 1952, he starred with blonde bombshell Marlene Dietrich in Rancho Notorious.

He played former US President Ronald Reagan's brother in Law and Order and also appeared in Badman's Country. Science fiction films also appealed to Russell, where he starred in cult film classics It Came from Outer Space, This Island Earth, Attack of the Crab Monsters, and The Space Children. Russell Johnson: TV Shows Multiple TV appearances made Johnson a TV staple, having acted in the military drama The Silent Service, four times.

He also acted twice with June Allyson on her CBS anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson. With William Shatner, he was a guest in the 1961 episode of Thriller. As the character named John Metcalf, he was seen in the CBS anthology series GE True.

He also starred in other drama shows the Real McCoys, The Dakotas, and Breaking Point, aired by ABC. Russell Johnson in The Twilight Zone He appeared twice in the Twilight Zone, with both episodes depicting time travel.

In 1960, the aptly titled 'Execution' episode saw Russell as a scientist fine-tuning his time machine only to inadvertently send back a 19th century killer. A year later, in 1961, he was discussing time travel with colleagues only to find himself present during Abraham Lincoln's assassination.

Russell Johnson in the Gilligan's Island Despite his versatile acting skills, Russell is best known as The Professor in the American cultural icon, the Gilligan's Island TV series.

The comedy series ran from 1964 to 1967 and was aired on CBS. The sitcom tells the story of seven shipwrecked castaways with unique personalities, as they try to survive the island. Their attempts to escape had all been in vain, thanks to Gilligan. Portrayed by Bob Denver, Gilligan is recognizable for his trademark red shirt, light- colored pants and white sneakers with white navy cap. He is the accident-prone first mate of the fictional ship SS Minnow in the series. Russell Johnson As The Professor While auditioning for the role, he was asked to take his shirt off.

He refused but still got the job. The unusual request was to balance the two female characters (Ginger and Mary Ann) who were deliberately chosen to play as sex symbols. Russell, as The Professor Ron Hinkley, was a high school teacher whose reason for being in the SS Minnow was to write a book on botany.

In the show, he invented stuff from coconuts and bamboo. Apart from being a Science geek, he was also the most logical character, called in to settle castaway disputes. Russell Johnson: Typecast in Comedy Roles Being in the show was both a blessing and a curse to Russell.

In several interviews, he mentioned having wonderful memories from starring in the show. When it stopped airing though, he had difficulty getting dramatic roles. He was so associated with his role as the Professor that he could not seem to shake it off. He, however, said that he doesn't regret playing the character.

Russell Johnson in Gilligan Spin-offs Gilligan's Island filmed 98 episodes in three seasons, but it was so popular that in 1978, a two-part made-for-TV movie Rescue From Gilligan's Island was aired.

In the movie, the castaways were successfully rescued but found themselves back on the island after a botched Hawaiian cruise reunion. Another spin off was aired a year later, where the castaways were entangled with stuntman cagers in The Harlem Globetrotters On Gilligan's Island.

Russell appeared in these movies and in other movies such as The Castaways on Gilligan's Island and Surviving Gilligan's Island. He also lent his voice to The New Adventures of Gilligan and Gilligan's Planet. The cast and creators of the series did not think the series would last long.

Fifty years on, however, the show's spin- offs and reruns still enjoy high viewership on television and social media channels like YouTube. Russell Johnson Relationships Johnson married three women in his lifetime.

Edith Cahoon was his first, they married in 1943, and divorced five years later. In 1949, he married fellow Actors' Lab student Kay Cousins. Russell and Kay had a daughter and a son, Kim and David, respectively.

In 1980, Kay died. Two years later, Russell wed Constance "Connie" Dane, who was to be his wife until his death in 2014. Marrying Connie, Russell became a stepfather to Courtney Dane. After living in Los Angeles since their union, Johnson and Dane moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1988. Russell Johnson's Retirement The overall vibe of Bainbridge Island allowed Johnson to work with writer Steve Cox on the memoir, "Here on Gilligan's Isle," published in 1993.

The book was a behind the scenes look on the set of the over 50-year-old show. While he seemed to have concluded his acting career, Johnson remained active lending his voice to characters and commercials on TV and radio. In October 1994, Russell's son David, the Los Angeles HIV-AIDS coordinator, died of HIV-related complications.

Eight years prior, in 1986, David's longtime partner had also died of similar causes. Following this, Russell became an activist for HIV research and fundraising activities. How Did Russell Johnson Die? At 89, Russell died in his sleep with the family members; wife Connie, and daughter Kimberly, at his side, in January 2014.

Johnson was also survived by his stepson, Courtney Dane, and a grandson. The doctor declared Johnson died from kidney failure. His remains were cremated, and the memorial service was held a month later. His death came unexpectedly somehow, as days prior, he was still signing autographs and showed up for public appearances over the holidays. With his death, only two surviving casts of Gilligan's Island remain alive as of mid 2020 --- Tina Louise, who played Ginger and Dawn Wells, who was known as Mary Ann.

Russell Johnson Net Worth