Cast & creator
Russell Johnson
Best known for MacGyver, Knots Landing, Wagon Train
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 Gilligan's 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 B-25 twin-engined medium bombers. On March 4, 1945, while flying as a navigator in a B-25 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his B-25 and two others were shot down during a low-level bombing and strafing run against Japanese military targets in the Philippine Islands. The B-25s encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire, and all three had to ditch in the sea off Zamboanga. Johnson broke both ankles in the landing, and his bomber's co-pilot was killed. Johnson received a Purple Heart for his injuries. He was also awarded the Air Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one campaign star, and the World War II Victory Medal. After Japan's surrender, Johnson was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22, 1945. He joined the United States Air Force Reserve and used the G.I. Bill to pay for his acting studies at the Actors' Lab in Hollywood. While there, he met actress Kay Cousins (1923–1980), 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 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), as well as in Roger Corman's rock-'n'-roll 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 Gilligan's Island. "The Professor" on Gilligan's 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 well-known scoutmaster. Gilligan's Island aired from 1964-67, but has been shown in reruns continuously ever since. CLR
Also known as: Russell D. Johnson, Russ Johnson, Russell David Johnson
51
film credits
95
television credits
146
1949–2022 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (146)
Showing 146 of 146 credits
MacGyver
Oslow
1985
Knots Landing
Tim Murphy
1979
Wagon Train
Craig Manson
1957Wagon Train
Major Dan Marriott
1957Wagon Train
Steve Marshall
1957
Mannix
1967
Ironside
Martin Lucas
1967
Dynasty
1981
Cannon
1971
Lassie
1954
The Twilight Zone
Prof. Manion
1959The Twilight Zone
Pete Corrigan
1959
The F.B.I.
Phillip Graham
1965The F.B.I.
Jim Kellogg
1965The F.B.I.
Dr. McGregor
1965
Ben Casey
1961
Newhart
1982
Rawhide
Burt Harvey
1959
Route 66
Bob Keel
1960
The Lone Ranger
Tom Levering
1949
Lawman
1958
Lou Grant
1977
ALF
Roy Hinkley
1986
Gunsmoke
Stanger
1955Gunsmoke
Harry Webb
1955Gunsmoke
Diggs
1955Gunsmoke
Link Parrin
1955
ABC Afterschool Special
Mr. Calder
1972
The Jeffersons
1975
Fame
1982
Thriller
Adam Talmadge
1960
Hawaiian Eye
1959
77 Sunset Strip
1958
The Outer Limits
Major Benedict
1963
That Girl
1966
The Detectives
Lee
1959
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Self
1994
The Invaders
James Bernard
1967
Adventures in Paradise
Bowman
1959
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Turk
1955
Laramie
Bob Murkland
1959
Gilligan's Island
Professor
1964
Police Story
1973
Felony Squad
Tye Laughlin
1966
Monsters
Jeffrey
1988
Tales of Wells Fargo
William Dodd
1957
Adventures of Superman
1952Adventures of Superman
Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
1952
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Hugh
1959The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Tom Richards
1959
Wonder Woman
Colonel
1975
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst D.A. Grant
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst. D.A. Grant
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Brenton Grant
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Prosecutor
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
DA Grant
1971
The Deputy
Albee Beckett
1959
McMillan & Wife
Carl Jensen
1971
Hollywood Squares
Self
1966
City Detective
1953Lux Video Theatre
Carter
1950Lux Video Theatre
Lennigan
1950
Riverboat
Darius
1959
Black Saddle
Marshal Gib Scott
1959
Cavalcade of America
Karl Nader
1952Cavalcade of America
Dan Marshall
1952
You Are There
1953
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Detective
1976
The Great Adventure
Narrator (voice)
1963The Great Adventure
Self - Narrator
1963
The Dakotas
1963The Greatest Show on Earth
Dr. Arnold Andrews
1963
Crossroads
Jack Fromer
1955
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Sgt. Stan Powers
1954
Bosom Buddies
1980
Steve Canyon
Maj. Pitch Hammer
1958
Roseanne
1988
General Electric True
1962
Temple Houston
1963
Hawkins
District Attorney
1973
Code R
Ike
1977
Jefferson Drum
The Sundown Kid
1958
The New Adventures of Gilligan
Professor Roy Hinkley (voice)
1974
Three Days of the Condor
Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
1975
Beyond Westworld
Patrick
1980
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Lefty
1951
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Scribe
1965
Ripcord
1961
The Bastard
Col. James Barrett
1978
Buffalo Bill
Dr. Murphy
1983
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
MacArthur
Admiral King
1977
Vanished
Clyde Morehouse
1971
Gilligan's Planet
Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice)
1982
The Ghost of Flight 401
Loft
1978
Many Rivers to Cross
Banks
1955
Ride Clear of Diablo
Jed Ringer
1954
It Came from Outer Space
George
1953
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
1978
Rancho Notorious
Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
1952
This Island Earth
Steve Carlson
1955
Attack of the Crab Monsters
Hank Chapman
1957
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
Professor
1979
Strange Lady in Town
Shadduck
1955
Law and Order
Jimmy Johnson
1953
The Saga of Hemp Brown
Hook
1958
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Self (archive footage)
2021
A Distant Trumpet
Captain Brinker
1964
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Steve Carlson (archive footage)
1996Kings Row
1955
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
Eddie Nelson
1955
Adventures of the Queen
Forbes
1975
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
Jim Hawley
1973
The Unknown Story
Self - archive footage
2022
Police Story: No Margin for Error
Captain
1978
Beg, Borrow...or Steal
Alex Langley
1973
The Turning Point
Herman (uncredited)
1952
Column South
Biddle
1953
The Space Children
Joe Gamble
1958
The Stand at Apache River
Greiner
1953
Black Tuesday
Howard Sloane
1954
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Professor
1981
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
Gen. George Stratemeyer
1976
Back at the Front
Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
1952
Seminole
Lt. Hamilton
1953
The Movie Murderer
Cliff Thomas
1970
Loan Shark
Charlie Thompson
1952
Hitch Hike to Hell
Captain J.W. Shaw
1977
The Great Skycopter Rescue
Professor Benson
1980
Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History
Himself
2001The Man from Independence
Linaver
1974
Johnny Dark
Emory
1954
Rock All Night
Jigger
1957
Cry for Poor Wally
1969
For Men Only
Ky Walker
1952
Off the Wall
Mr. Whitby
1983
Tumbleweed
Lam Blandon
1953
You Lie So Deep, My Love
The Foreman
1975
Badman's Country
Sundance
1958
Courage of Black Beauty
Ben Farraday
1957
Aloha Means Goodbye
Dr. Frank Franklin
1974
The Gilligan Manifesto
Himself
2018
Blue Movies
Mr. Martin
1988Stevie and Zoya
Narrator
Nowhere to Hide
Charles Montague
1977