Russell Johnson
Biography
Russell David Johnson was an American actor born on November 10, 1924, in Ashley, Pennsylvania. He is best known for portraying Professor Roy Hinkley in Gilligan's Island. Johnson was the eldest of seven siblings. During World War II, he served as an aviation cadet in the United States Army Air Forces and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He flew 44 combat missions in the Pacific Theater as a bombardier in B-25 twin-engined medium bombers. On March 4, 1945, while serving as a navigator with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his B-25 and two other aircraft were shot down. Johnson died on January 16, 2014, at the age of 89.
Career overview
Russell David Johnson was an American actor born on November 10, 1924, in Ashley, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his portrayal of Professor Roy Hinkley in the television series Gilligan's Island. Throughout his professional life, he accumulated 127 known credits. He died on January 16, 2014, at the age of 89.
Before his acting career, Johnson served in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. After completing his training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. During World War II, he served as a bombardier in B-25 twin-engined medium bombers, flying 44 combat missions in the Pacific Theater. On March 4, 1945, Johnson was flying as a navigator in a B-25 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, when his aircraft and two others were shot down.
Johnson was the eldest of seven siblings. His siblings included Kenneth Walter Johnson, David Reed Johnson, Lois Marion Johnson, Lorraine Johnson Crosby, Marion Joan Johnson Reeves, and Paul Wesley.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
142 titles- The Unknown Story (2022) as Self - archive footage
- Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists! (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- The Gilligan Manifesto (2018) as Himself
- Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History (2001) as Himself
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996) as Steve Carlson (archive footage)
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Self
- Monsters (1988) as Jeffrey
- Roseanne (1988)
- Blue Movies (1988) as Mr. Martin
- ALF (1986) as Roy Hinkley
- MacGyver (1985) as Oslow
- Off the Wall (1983) as Mr. Whitby
- Newhart (1982)
- Fame (1982)
- Gilligan's Planet (1982) as Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (voice)
- Dynasty (1981)
- The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981) as Professor
- Bosom Buddies (1980)
- Beyond Westworld (1980) as Patrick
- The Great Skycopter Rescue (1980) as Professor Benson
- Knots Landing (1979) as Tim Murphy
- The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979) as Professor
- The Bastard (1978) as Col. James Barrett
- The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978) as Loft
- Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978) as Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr.
- Police Story: No Margin for Error (1978) as Captain
- Lou Grant (1977)
- Code R (1977) as Ike
- MacArthur (1977) as Admiral King
- Hitch Hike to Hell (1977) as Captain J.W. Shaw
- Nowhere to Hide (1977) as Charles Montague
- Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) as Detective
- Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur (1976) as Gen. George Stratemeyer
- The Jeffersons (1975)
- Wonder Woman (1975) as Colonel
- Three Days of the Condor (1975) as Intelligence Officer at Briefing (uncredited)
- Adventures of the Queen (1975) as Forbes
- You Lie So Deep, My Love (1975) as The Foreman
- The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974) as Professor Roy Hinkley (voice)
- Aloha Means Goodbye (1974) as Dr. Frank Franklin
- The Man from Independence (1974) as Linaver
- Police Story (1973)
- Hawkins (1973) as District Attorney
- Beg, Borrow...or Steal (1973) as Alex Langley
- The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973) as Jim Hawley
- ABC Afterschool Special (1972) as Mr. Calder
- Cannon (1971)
- McMillan & Wife (1971) as Carl Jensen
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) as Asst D.A. Grant
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) as Asst. D.A. Grant
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) as Brenton Grant
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) as Asst. D.A. Brenton Grant
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) as Prosecutor
- Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971) as DA Grant
- Vanished (1971) as Clyde Morehouse
- The Movie Murderer (1970) as Cliff Thomas
- Cry for Poor Wally (1969)
- Ironside (1967) as Martin Lucas
- Mannix (1967)
- The Invaders (1967) as James Bernard
- That Girl (1966)
- Felony Squad (1966) as Tye Laughlin
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Phillip Graham
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Jim Kellogg
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Dr. McGregor
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) as Scribe
- Gilligan's Island (1964) as Roy "The Professor" Hinkley
- A Distant Trumpet (1964) as Captain Brinker
- The Outer Limits (1963) as Major Benedict
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Narrator (voice)
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Self - Narrator
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) as Dr. Arnold Andrews
- The Dakotas (1963)
- Temple Houston (1963)
- General Electric True (1962)
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Ripcord (1961)
- Thriller (1960) as Adam Talmadge
- Route 66 (1960) as Bob Keel
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Prof. Manion
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Pete Corrigan
- Rawhide (1959) as Burt Harvey
- The Deputy (1959) as Albee Beckett
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Bowman
- Hawaiian Eye (1959)
- The Detectives (1959) as Lee
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Hugh
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Tom Richards
- Riverboat (1959) as Darius
- Black Saddle (1959) as Marshal Gib Scott
- Lawman (1958)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- Steve Canyon (1958) as Maj. Pitch Hammer
- Jefferson Drum (1958) as The Sundown Kid
- The Space Children (1958) as Joe Gamble
- Badman's Country (1958) as Sundance
- The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958) as Hook
- Wagon Train (1957) as Craig Manson
- Wagon Train (1957) as Major Dan Marriott
- Wagon Train (1957) as Steve Marshall
- Tales of Wells Fargo (1957) as William Dodd
- Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) as Hank Chapman
- Rock All Night (1957) as Jigger
- Courage of Black Beauty (1957) as Ben Farraday
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Stanger
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Harry Webb
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Diggs
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Link Parrin
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Turk
- This Island Earth (1955) as Steve Carlson
- Many Rivers to Cross (1955) as Banks
- Strange Lady in Town (1955) as Shadduck
- Kings Row (1955)
- Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955) as Eddie Nelson
- Lassie (1954)
- The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954) as Sgt. Stan Powers
- Ride Clear of Diablo (1954) as Jed Ringer
- Johnny Dark (1954) as Emory
- Black Tuesday (1954) as Howard Sloane
- You Are There (1953)
- City Detective (1953)
- Law and Order (1953) as Jimmy Johnson
- It Came from Outer Space (1953) as George
- The Stand at Apache River (1953) as Greiner
- Seminole (1953) as Lt. Hamilton
- Column South (1953) as Biddle
- Tumbleweed (1953) as Lam Blandon
- Adventures of Superman (1952)
- Adventures of Superman (1952) as Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Karl Nader
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Dan Marshall
- The Turning Point (1952) as Herman (uncredited)
- Rancho Notorious (1952) as Chuck-A-Luck Wheel Spinner (uncredited)
- Loan Shark (1952) as Charlie Thompson
- For Men Only (1952) as Ky Walker
- Back at the Front (1952) as Johnny Redondo - Smuggler
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Lefty
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Carter
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Lennigan
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Tom Levering
- Stevie and Zoya as Narrator
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Russell Johnson best known for?
Russell Johnson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Tribes of Europa (2021), Oscar (1967), Monsters (1988), Roseanne (1988).
When and where was Russell Johnson born?
Russell Johnson was born on November 10, 1924 in Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA. They passed away on January 16, 2014.
How many credits does Russell Johnson have?
Russell Johnson has accumulated over 142 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1949 to 2022.
What is Russell Johnson's background in cinema and television?
Russell David Johnson was an American actor born on November 10, 1924, in Ashley, Pennsylvania. He is best known for portraying Professor Roy Hinkley in Gilligan's Island. Johnson was the eldest of seven siblings. During World War II, he served as an aviation cadet in the United States Army Air Forces and was commissio...
Russell Johnson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Lefty — aged about 26
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Prof. Manion — aged about 34
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Pete Corrigan — aged about 34
- Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (1976) as Detective — aged about 51
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Self — aged about 69
- Hawkins (1973) as District Attorney — aged about 48
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