Russell Johnson aka "The Professor" DEAD

[SamuelKhan]

Russell Johnson, the actor who played Professor Roy Hinkley on "Gilligan’s Island," has died of natural causes, The Wrap reports. He was 89.

Johnson, whose genius professor character was always one coconut away from inventing a way off the island, got his Hollywood start in '50s science fiction classics "This Island Earth" and "It Came From Outer Space." He also scored two appearances on "The Twilight Zone" and once acted opposite Ronald Reagan in the 1953 western film "Law and Order."

Prior to acting, Johnson served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He earned a Purple Heart when his plane was shot down over the Philippines in 1945.

Johnson was married three times, most recently to actress Constance Dane.

Following news of his death, former co-star Dawn Wells, who played MaryAnn on "Gilligan's Island," took to Facebook to express her sadness.

 

[Fantasy-Play]

Sad news for the loss of Mr. Johnson. Thanks Samuel. I loved watching reruns of Gilligans island! I always fantasized that if I was Ginger, he and I would be hooking up on that island haha!

 

[SamuelKhan]

He could have done her.

You know...and everyone knows...it was...

Before she became baked...

 

[SamuelKhan]

And if anyone remembers when MTV actually played music, Russell Johnson provided the narration for Stevie Washington, The Angry Youth.

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Stevie Washington, the angry youth.

Born to Die!

New York's, New York.

The turn of the century.

All crime!!

 

[C.A.B.]

I'll always the Gilligan "Jekyll & Hyde" dream sequence where Russell had the rare opportunity to break from the straight-lace Professor character and cut loose as a dirty old man... he really hammed it up and was hilarious. Rest in Peace, Sir.

 

[desdemona]

I always enjoyed watching Gilligan's Island as both a child and I still do as an adult. The stereotypical behaviors still ring true - and that's sometimes comforting in the chaos of reality TV we find on nowadays. RIP.

 

[rdhd]

To have shows like that again (and actors able to pull such shows off)...wouldn't it be great! And I can imagine the Professor as Mr. Fetish, visiting with Ginger and Mary Ann...that would have been a good episode...

 

[Bugman]

To have shows like that again (and actors able to pull such shows off)...wouldn't it be great! And I can imagine the Professor as Mr. Fetish, visiting with Ginger and Mary Ann...that would have been a good episode...

That show is from the Golden Age of TV. The Jackie Gleason Show, Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, Gun Smoke, Bonanza, The Wonderful World of Disney...
Those days are gone, never to return. 🙁

R.I.P. Mr. Johnson.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

That show is from the Golden Age of TV. The Jackie Gleason Show, Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, Gun Smoke, Bonanza, The Wonderful World of Disney...
Those days are gone, never to return. 🙁

R.I.P. Mr. Johnson.

It's ok, Bug. We have new classics to enjoy:

"My Granny is a Kleptomaniac"
"My Two Year Old Daughter's Pregnant"
"I Thought It Was Tylenol"
"My Son Loves Another Man's Davenport"
"Bulimia Showdown"


Drew