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Morning Man Classic: Russell Johnson!
Neglected to do a Morning Man today because of the Oscar nominees announcement.
So what a perfect day to present a Morning Man Classic even though it is not a Sunday.
He is Russell Johnson, best known for playing The Professor on Gilligan’s Island. The handsome actor died today at the age of 89.
It’s hard to believe that this classic sitcom with seven castaways stranded on an uncharted desert isle only last three seasons. It proved so enormously popular that three TV movies later followed including one where the castaways were rescued!
But I think they ended up back on the island anyway if I recall correctly. I think they stopped making the TV movies when they jumped the shark with the Harlem Globetrotters also ending up on the island!
This is all off the top of my head so I may be wrong.
Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on the show, said on Facebook: ‘My heart is broken. Russell was a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend.’
I didn’t realize Johnson had a website called Professor’s Place. Take a look!
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Jay says:
Before he landed the role of Professor Roy Hinckley on Gilligan’s Island; Johnson had various roles in the Western and Sci-Fi films and television shows. When he auditioned for GI- he was asked if he was hairy chested and told to take his shirt off- which he refused. He still got the part. In the ’60s, Johnson made “smart” sexy… though the Professor was oblivious how handsome he was on that island.
Both Johnson and Dawn Wells did not have their characters mentioned in the GI opening theme song during the first season. Bob Denver annoyed over this used his contract perks as the series “star” to demand Johnson and Wells be given “opening credits stature.” The opening theme song was then changed to “… and all the rest” to “the Professor and Mary Ann.” Johnson was well loved by his GI co-stars and he reprised his Professor role in voicing the character in animated spin-offs and portraying him in front of the camera for various cameo guest shots. He even played “Mark” on the GI “dream” episode of Roseanne. The late actor who portrayed Mark- playing the Professor.
Most of all Johnson was a supporter of AIDS awareness and causes. He had a son who died of the disease.
Almost reaching his 90th birthday- Russell Johnson (a WWII veteran) did have a good go. He will be missed and remembered in the realm of sitcom re-runs. Peace dear Professor
Dan says:
Hi Greg – it’s Dan Miller – I recall Russell Johnson had a son who died from AIDS – I remember him giving a really touching interview about it some years back. He was quite handsome in the day – Forget Ginger and MaryAnn – I wanted the Professor.
Mark Bessenger says:
For those interested, Russell Johnson wrote his autobiography, “Here on Gilligan’s Isle”, in which he talks about his time during WWII, his sci-fi film career, the deaths of Jim Backus and Alan Hale Jr., his son having AIDS and of course, his experiences shooting “Gilligan’s Island.” At a book signing, he wrote, “To Mark, the 8th castaway” on my copy.
If you should seek this out, I’d recommend the audio book to hear the man tell his own story. It’s great.