Russell Johnson, who played The Professor on "Gilligan's Island," dies at age 89

[Pardus]

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...d-professor-on-gilligan-island-dies-at-age-8/

Actor Russell Johnson, who played The Professor on "Gilligan's Island," has died.

He was 89.

Johnson's agent told Fox News that the actor passed away at his home in Washington State on Thursday morning of natural causes, with his wife and daughter by his side.

Johnson's co-star Dawn Wells, who played Mary Anne on the show, posted on her Facebook page: "My 2 favorite people are now gone. The professor past (sic) away this morning. My heart is broken."

"Russell was a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend, and 'the rest,'" Wells wrote.

Wells and Tina Louise, who played Ginger, are the show's last two surviving cast members.

Johnson starred on "Gilligan's Island," a classic TV comedy about a mismatched set of castaways stranded on a deserted island, from 1964 to 1967.

His character, high school science teacher Roy Hinkley, built generators and other gadgets out of scraps of junk found on the island. Johnson later joked that the one thing The Professor never figured out how to do was to fix the leaky boat so the group could get back to civilization.

Johnson started out in westerns and sci-fi movies, including "It Came From Outer Space." After "Gilligan's Island" he worked regularly with small parts on television.

 

[sixone]

RIP

i want caps

 

[JManInPhoenix]

Now that really sucks - loved that show when I was kid. RIP Russell Johnson.

 

[dainthomas]

RIP, Professor.

That said, some pretty recent pictures of Dawn Wells shows she still looks alright. :sneaky:

 

[zinfamous]

wow, only 2 of them are still alive? (oh right, several of them were pretty damn old at the time--the Hathaways or whatever. probably died a few years after the final episode...)

Mary Anne was so hot

 

[mmntech]

wow, only 2 of them are still alive? (oh right, several of them were pretty damn old at the time--the Hathaways or whatever. probably died a few years after the final episode...)

Mary Anne was so hot

Jim Backus, who played Thurston Howell III died in 1989 at 76. He would have been 51 when the show premièred.

Natalie Schafer, who played Mrs Howell died in 1991 at age 90. She was actually a lot older than her TV husband.

Allan Hale Jr, the Skipper, died in 1990 as well at age 68.

Bod Denver kicked the bucket in 2005.

Dawn Wells is 75. She's aged pretty well.
https://www.facebook.com/therealmaryann

Tina Louise is 79. She's on Twitter. I'm guessing her profile picture isn't a recent one. Either that or her plastic surgeon is a miracle worker. https://twitter.com/TheTinaLouise

 

[echo4747]

Ruben Kincaid (Dave Madden) from Partridge Family died as well:

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity...dge-familys-reuben-kincaid-dies-at-82-2014161

 

[uhohs]

the japanese soldier stuck on an island for 30 years not knowing the war was over just passed away as well.

what are the odds.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/news/2014/01/17/kiji/K20140117007402700.html

 

[Rudee]

Sweet Jesus! Tina Louise (Ginger) is turning 80 next month!!

 

[John Connor]

Loved watching Gilligan's island. When I went to Newport Beach on my own three hour tour the tour guide said some filming was done there.

 

[bradley]

Thankfully my parents seldom allowed me to watch television as a child. Gilligan's Island especially exemplified the very worst of television.

Studies have demonstrated that the cartoon SpongeBob leads to learning problems. I wouldn't be surprised if Gilligan's Island is far behind in that category... perhaps worse.

 

[John Connor]

You have to be fucking kidding me.

What's (-7)*(-2)*(10/5)

 

[QueBert]

Thankfully my parents seldom allowed me to watch television as a child. Gilligan's Island especially exemplified the very worst of television.

Studies have demonstrated that the cartoon SpongeBob leads to learning problems. I wouldn't be surprised if Gilligan's Island is far behind in that category... perhaps worse.

I believe you meant to say isn't?

Your parents not letting you watch Gilligan's Island apparently didn't help much...

 

[bradley]

I believe you meant to say isn't?

Your parents not letting you watch Gilligan's Island apparently didn't help much...

Actually, pedantic genius who named himself after a video game character, your sentence and example are both double negatives. Three strikes and you will be out of luck.

How about, "I would be surprised if Gilligan's Island isn't far behind in that category?" Does that make you feel warm/cozy about a wasted youth and overindulgence in brain junk food?

 

[John Connor]

Brain junk food? The professor inspired me to take apart my radio and I modified it to listen to air traffic control!

 

[bradley]

Brain junk food? The professor inspired me to take apart my radio and I modified it to listen to air traffic control!

Well at least something good came from that horrid dreck. Though in defending the indefensible, we could likely aim higher at well-written comedy shows: Dick Van *** or Mary Tyler Moore, a drama: Twillight Zone, or a combo of both: MASH.

 

[Engineer]

RIP!

Oh, and Mary Ann > Ginger

 

[Druidx]

Years ago I saw a funny interview with Bob Denver. He was asked if he knew the show was going to be a popular as it was. He replied he didn’t have a clue but Russell Johnson must have as he ended up making more money than everyone else in the cast. While all the other cast got paid up front, Russell Johnson made a deal for less money but would get a small percentage from possible future royalties. So he was the only one who ever made money from the show during all the years it was in syndication.
Bob Denver just laughed, and said that was why he was the Professor.

 

[brianmanahan]

the professor and mary ann!

HERE ON GILLIGAN'S ISLEEEEEEE

i loved that show

 

[unokitty]

Professor, second from right, in his younger days.

While flying as a navigator in a B-24 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his plane and two other B-24s were shot down in the Philippines in March 1945 during a low-level bombing and strafing run against Japanese targets. The planes were hit by intense flak and had to ditch in the waters off the port of Zamboanga. During the ditching, he broke both his ankles and the radioman next to him was killed...

Used GI Bill to pay for his acting lessons.

RIP Professor.

Uno

 

[PlanetJosh]

I moved on from the "dreck" of Gilligan's Island to Jersey Shore. (sarcasm) On a true note I did watch just about every ep of Gilligan's Island back then, yeah I'm an old guy. Oh but I'm not as much of a success as I thought I'd be. Guess Gilligan's Island is to blame..