Russell David Johnson

 Russell David Johnson (November 10, 1924 – January 16, 2014)

He was a television and film actor, best known for his role as "the Professor" on the CBS television sitcom Gilligan's Island. A graduate of Girard College in Pennsylvania, he served in the Second World War as a bombardier in the United States Army Air Forces. He was shot down over the Philippines in March 1945, receiving a Purple Heart for breaking both his ankles. In addition to his Purple Heart, he was also the recipient of several distinguished military awards including the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star, the World War Two Victory Medal and three service stars. Johnson became a close friend of Audie Murphy and later appeared with him in three of his films, Column South and Tumbleweed in 1953 and Ride Clear of Diablo in 1954. Johnson's Hollywood career began in 1952, with the college fraternity hazing exposé For Men Only, and with Loan Shark, also released in 1952 and starring George Raft. His early roles were primarily in Westerns such as 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) and Roger Corman's rock 'n' roll crime drama Rock All Night (1957). In Television, Johnson appeared in episodes of The Twilight Zone, Black Saddle, and Outer Limits, prior to his role on Gilligan's Island. After Gilligan's Island, Johnson found himself somewhat typecast, making it harder to portray more non-sophisticated roles other than his signature role as the Professor.

Nevertheless, he was able to resume a sufficient acting career. Johnson played the sheriff in several episodes of season 9 of Dallas; his character did not return in season 10, however, as season 9 turned out to be the infamous "dream season". Johnson published his memoirs, Here on Gilligan's Isle, in 1993. He died from kidney failure at his home in Bainbridge Island, Washington, on January 16, 2014, at the age of 89.