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'Gilligan's Island' Star Russell Johnson Dies of Kidney Failure
ABC.com ^ | January 16, 2014 | LESLEY MESSER

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 ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: gilligan; gilligansisland; hollywood; johnson; obituary; professor; russelljohnson; theprofessor
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To: F15Eagle

The Ghost of Flight 401


41 posted on 01/16/2014 1:12:25 PM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Shall Not Be Infringed)
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To: Timber Rattler
This SO weird. Not having seen a single Gilligans Island episode in decades, I happened upon the last 10 minutes of one of the first season, black and white shows last night, while channel surfing. I stopped, the character on the screen at that precise moment was none other than Johnson.

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...

42 posted on 01/16/2014 1:12:36 PM PST by Prospero (Si Deus trucido mihi, ego etiam fides Deus.)
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To: Mr Rogers

:: even if he did hate Ronald Reagan ::

Maybe because Ronnie was Union-wonk during the days of GI?

Just thinking out-loud.


43 posted on 01/16/2014 1:13:13 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations: The acronym defines the science.)
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To: Prospero

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.


44 posted on 01/16/2014 1:16:22 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8: verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded".)
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To: Yossarian

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.


45 posted on 01/16/2014 1:18:38 PM PST by puppypusher ( The World is going to the dogs.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

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.


46 posted on 01/16/2014 1:18:50 PM PST by greene66
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To: TurboZamboni

Was a vet who won a bronze star, if I recall, landing planes in the Pacific.


47 posted on 01/16/2014 1:19:15 PM PST by LS ('Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually.' Hendrix)
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To: TurboZamboni

Could make a radio out of coconuts but couldn’t contact anyone.


48 posted on 01/16/2014 1:19:52 PM PST by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: puppypusher

Actors were different back in the day. Read Jimmy Stewart’s record sometime.


49 posted on 01/16/2014 1:19:59 PM PST by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: Sarah Barracuda

He was McGuyver’s idol. LOL.


50 posted on 01/16/2014 1:20:11 PM PST by Carriage Hill (Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading.)
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To: Paine in the Neck

Sad. His son, David, died of AIDS at age 39.


51 posted on 01/16/2014 1:20:12 PM PST by proudpapa (A school is supposed to be a safe place!' Yeah well so is a womb!)
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To: Yossarian

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!


52 posted on 01/16/2014 1:20:22 PM PST by LS ('Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually.' Hendrix)
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To: massgopguy

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.


53 posted on 01/16/2014 1:21:08 PM PST by greene66
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To: Timber Rattler

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..................


54 posted on 01/16/2014 1:21:27 PM PST by Red Badger (Proud member of the Zeta Omicron Tau Fraternity since 2004...................)
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To: greene66

They were finally rescued..................


55 posted on 01/16/2014 1:22:22 PM PST by Red Badger (Proud member of the Zeta Omicron Tau Fraternity since 2004...................)
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To: knarf

GI was 60’s.......................


56 posted on 01/16/2014 1:22:59 PM PST by Red Badger (Proud member of the Zeta Omicron Tau Fraternity since 2004...................)
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To: Sarah Barracuda

And he invented rechargable batteries! lol


57 posted on 01/16/2014 1:24:03 PM PST by Fledermaus (If we here in TN can't get rid of the worthless Lamar, it's over.)
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To: Timber Rattler

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.


58 posted on 01/16/2014 1:24:52 PM PST by skinndogNN
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To: greene66

He did a great Twilight Zone where he goes back in time to the night of Lincoln’s death and tries to warn people.


59 posted on 01/16/2014 1:25:17 PM PST by Fledermaus (If we here in TN can't get rid of the worthless Lamar, it's over.)
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To: carriage_hill

He was McGuyver before McGuyver even existed


60 posted on 01/16/2014 1:25:45 PM PST by Sarah Barracuda
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