Russell Johnson

Russell Johnson was an American actor. He was born on November 10, 1924, in Ashley, Pennsylvania. His parents are Russell Kennedy Johnson and Marion Wenonah Smink Johnson. He was married to Constance "Connie" Dane, who was his third wife. He did his education at Girard College, Philadelphia. After completing his schooling, he enlisted as an aviation cadet under The United States Army Air Forces. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant after his training. During the Second World War, he flew 44 combat missions as a bombardier in the Pacific Theater. Johnson's B-25 and two others were shot down in the Philippine Islands, on March 4, 1945, while he was flying as a navigator.

For his injuries, Johnson received a Purple Heart. He won the World War II Victory Medal, the Air Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He was discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22, 1945. He later joined the United States Air Force Reserve. After being discharged from his military career, Johnson made use of his G.I. Bill for payment of his acting studies at Hollywood's Actor's Lab. When he became a close friend of Audie Murphy, he appeared in three films with him, namely "Column South," "Tumbleweed," and "Ride Clear of Diablo."

His early roles were in films including Rancho Notorious, Seminole, Law and Order, and Badman's Country. He was also a part of science fiction-related movies like This Island Earth, It Came from Outer Space, The Space Children, and Attack of the Crab Monsters. He appeared in Ma and Pa Kettle Vehicle, Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki, Rock All Night, and Many Rivers to Cross. He was featured in two episodes of The Twilight Zone. He received fame and appreciation when he played Professor Roy Hinkley in Gilligan's Island. Later, he appeared as a guest star in Lassie, Death Valley Days, That Girl, The Big Valley, The Invaders, and Ironside.

He appeared four times in the military drama The Silent Series. John co-starred as Marshal Gib Scott in Black Saddle. He performed in a medical drama series, Breaking Point. He guest starred in The Hungry Glass episode of Thriller, and the Sky Diver as Harvey Stephens. In the Warner Bros, he appeared in the episode Muting at Fort Mercy. He died on January 16, 2014, in Bainbridge Island, Washington, at eighty-nine due to kidney failure.