Posted on 01/16/2014 12:45:00 PM PST by Timber Rattler
Russell Johnson, the actor best known for playing the Professor on "Gilligan's Island," has died.
ABC News confirmed with the actor's wife, Constance, that the 89-year-old TV star died early this morning of kidney failure.
"He died at home, peaceful, in his sleep at 5:21 am today," she said. "[He was] a very brave guy who knew what he wanted, and he wanted to be at home."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
The Ghost of Flight 401
He had a career before The Island, not all of it B-grade sci-fi movies and Zones or Outer Limits.
Trivia Champions will know that "the Skipper's" character name was mentioned in the series at least once ("Jonas Grumby," God bless 'em, Alan Hale, Jr. He and his father were both fine people and fixtures, in their time.)
But, was "the Professor's" character name ever mentioned; was it even hinted at, by Sheldon Leonard or any of the merry band of writers?
Inquiring minds want to know...
:: even if he did hate Ronald Reagan ::
Maybe because Ronnie was Union-wonk during the days of GI?
Just thinking out-loud.
All of their names were given in a radio report on the first episode.
Natalie Shaefer really was pretty old when the show was on. She was pretty spry for her age.
Imagine that!An American Hero coming out of Hollywood.In his case Hollywood came after his Service but its still nice to see and read about his military exploits.
Unlike Hollywood today,During the Second World War a lot of Athletes and actors were proud to serve their country in the military.
Today its up to some poor middle class guy to sign up.
Or, I also think he had a son die of AIDS. Might have joined in with the activist crowd that blamed Reagan. I saw Johnson and his wife interviewed on the subject once.
Was a vet who won a bronze star, if I recall, landing planes in the Pacific.
Could make a radio out of coconuts but couldn’t contact anyone.
Actors were different back in the day. Read Jimmy Stewart’s record sometime.
He was McGuyver’s idol. LOL.
Sad. His son, David, died of AIDS at age 39.
Good. You got the details. I knew he was in the Pacific and it involved planes, but I thought he was landing them from the ground, not flying!
Yep, I think because it shot right after Kennedy’s assassination. Heard Dawn Wells mentioning this one time, when I saw her at a show talking to some folks.
Rest in Peace, Professor......................We enjoyed the show and still do. I have the complete series on DVD as well as the unreleased Pilot episode.
Note: The pilot episode did not have the Professor, Mary Ann or Ginger..................
They were finally rescued..................
GI was 60’s.......................
And he invented rechargable batteries! lol
He was 89 years old. Can we not just say he died and not give a reason? If you made it to 80, you lived a healthy life. When you give reasons on why people died, it sounds as if they did something wrong and that’s why they died.
He did a great Twilight Zone where he goes back in time to the night of Lincoln’s death and tries to warn people.
He was McGuyver before McGuyver even existed
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.