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Russell Johnson

Highest Rated: 81% It Came From Outer Space (1953)

Lowest Rated: 20% The Gilligan Manifesto (2018)

Birthday: Nov 10, 1924

Birthplace: Ashley, Pennsylvania, USA

The death of his father when he was eight years old and his placement in a boarding school for disadvantaged boys changed future character actor Russell Johnson from an aimless Pennsylvania youth to a purpose-driven young adult. Following his decorated military service during World War II, Johnson studied acting in Hollywood on the GI Bill, winning a contract with Universal Studios. After a decade of work on stage and television and in such features as "It Came From Outer Space" (1953) and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), Johnson signed on for the CBS sitcom "Gilligan's Island" (1964-67) with little ambition beyond supporting his family; the unparalleled success of the series in both its three-year run and in syndication made a pop culture figurehead of Johnson's "The Professor," whose indefatigable gadget-making was a low tech tonic for the high anxiety of the Cold War. Yet instant recognition came at a price for Johnson, who found himself adrift after the cancellation of his series in 1967, struggling to reestablish himself as a dramatic actor even as he was enshrined for playing one of the most beloved television characters of all time. Inevitably, his obituaries following his 2014 death led with his most iconic role.

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Highest rated movies

81% 55% It Came From Outer Space
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80% 42% The Turning Point
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75% 45% This Island Earth
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71% 30% Attack of the Crab Monsters
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50% 40% A Distant Trumpet
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20% 86% The Gilligan Manifesto
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46% Ride Clear of Diablo
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The Saga of Hemp Brown
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29% Adventures of the Queen
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Tumbleweed
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
20% 86% The Gilligan Manifesto Self - 2018
No Score Yet 100% Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three-Hour Tour in History Self - 2001
No Score Yet 67% With a Vengeance Dr. Jesse Butler (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 50% Blue Movies Mr. Martin (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet 43% The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr. (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Castaways on Gilligan's Island Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr. (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet 44% Rescue From Gilligan's Island Professor Roy Hinkley Jr. (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Ghost of Flight 401 Loft (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 50% Hitch Hike to Hell Captain J.W. Shaw (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Great Skycopter Rescue Professor Benson (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nowhere to Hide Charles Montague (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Collision Course Gen. George Stratemeyer (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 29% Adventures of the Queen Forbes (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet You Lie So Deep, My Love The Foreman (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Aloha Means Goodbye Dr. Frank Franklin (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet 44% The Horror at 37,000 Feet Jim Hawley (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Beg, Borrow... or Steal Alex Langley (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Movie Murderer Cliff Thomas (Character) - 1970
50% 40% A Distant Trumpet Capt. Brinker (Character) - 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Saga of Hemp Brown Hook (Character) - 1958
No Score Yet 20% The Space Children Joe Gamble (Character) - 1958
No Score Yet No Score Yet Badman's Country Sundance (Character) - 1958
No Score Yet No Score Yet Courage of Black Beauty Ben Farraday (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet 29% Rock All Night Jigger (Character) - 1957
71% 30% Attack of the Crab Monsters Hank Chapman (Character) - 1957
75% 45% This Island Earth Steve Carlson (Character) - 1955
No Score Yet 75% Black Tuesday Howard Sloane (Character) - 1955
No Score Yet 46% Ride Clear of Diablo Jed Ringer (Character) - 1954
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tumbleweed Lam Blandon (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Column South Cpl. Biddle (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 40% Seminole Lt. Hamilton (Character) - 1953
81% 55% It Came From Outer Space George (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 50% Law and Order Jimmy Johnson (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Stand at Apache River Greiner (Character) - 1953
80% 42% The Turning Point Herman (uncredited) (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet 15% Loan Shark Charlie Thompson (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Tall Lie Ky Walker (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet Willie and Joe Back at the Front Johnny Redondo (Character) - 1952

TV

Credit
87% 98% Mystery Science Theater 3000 Unknown (Character) 1998
76% 78% Roseanne Mark (Guest Star) 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Space Ghost: Coast to Coast Guest 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Two Dads Unknown (Guest Star) 1989
No Score Yet 79% ALF Professor Roy Hinkley (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Newhart Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fame Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gilligan's Planet Professor Roy Hinkley (Voice) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Jeffersons Mac Steele (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
1982
80% 60% Bosom Buddies Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
100% 82% Wonder Woman Unknown (Guest Star) 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet The New Adventures of Gilligan Professor (Voice) 1974-1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cannon Paul Merrick (Guest Star) 1974-1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mannix Brasher (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gunsmoke Diggs (Guest Star) 1957 1959 1969 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet That Girl Unknown (Guest Star) 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lassie Ranger Mark Adams (Guest Star) 1958 1962-1963 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Felony Squad Tye Laughlin (Guest Star) 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Big Valley Unknown (Guest Star) 1968
90% 73% Gilligan's Island Roy "The Professor" Hinkley (Character) 1964-1967
92% 92% The Outer Limits Unknown (Character) 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet 77 Sunset Strip Harry Devlin (Guest Star) 1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rawhide Unknown (Guest Star) 1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet Laramie Al Denning (Guest Star) 1961-1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet Timmy & Lassie Unknown (Guest Star) 1962-1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Dakotas Lt. Clyde Mariot (Guest Star) 1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wagon Train Craig Manson (Guest Star) 1957-1958 1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ben Casey Dr. Stanley Burke (Guest Star) 1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Law and Mr. Jones Unknown (Guest Star) 1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tales of Wells Fargo William Dodd (Guest Star) 1957 1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet Route 66 Unknown (Guest Star) 1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Detectives Unknown (Guest Star) 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Deputy Unknown (Guest Star) 1961
92% 96% The Twilight Zone Pete Corrigan (Character) 1960-1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thriller Unknown (Character) 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Black Saddle Marshal Gib Scott (Character) 1959-1960
No Score Yet 87% Alfred Hitchcock Presents Turk (Character) 1957
No Score Yet No Score Yet Circus Boy Unknown (Guest Star) 1956
No Score Yet No Score Yet Climax! Unknown (Character) 1956
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Lone Ranger Tom Levering (Guest Star) 1955
No Score Yet No Score Yet Superman Unknown (Guest Star) 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Meego Unknown (Guest Star)