Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dead at 89

[daflyboys]

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=847737&ocid=ansent11

Long before he was known as "The Professor" in the cult comedy classic Gilligan's Island (1964), Russell Johnson was a well-known character actor, starring in several Westerns and Sci-Fi classics as This Island Earth (1955) and It Came from Outer Space (1953). Johnson grew up in Pennsylvania and was sent to a boarding school in Philadelphia with his brothers when his father died.

Unlike his Professor character, Johnson said he was not a bright student and was in fact held back a grade. Johnson did redeem himself later on in his school career and made the National Honor Society in high school. He joined the Army Air Corps in World War II, and earned the Purple Heart when his B-24 Liberator was shot down in the Philippines during a bombing run in March, 1945. After the war, he used the G.I. Bill to enroll in acting school to ply his new trade.

Johnson lived in the state of Washington, and has done several guest shots on television shows.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dead at 89

R.I.P

[Picci]

Re: Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dead at 89

This leaves Dawn Wells and Tina Louise as the last 2 remaining cast members still alive.

RIP Mr Russell Johnson

[JayBee74]

Re: Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dead at 89

He had a good, long, life.

RIP Professor.

Something you might not have known.

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[OSUFan_88]

Re: Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dead at 89

Between Gilligan's Island and This Island Earth (or more important, the MST3000 Movie), he's definitely in some of my favorite stuff. RIP!