Summer Fun: Remembering Gilligan’s Island

Russell Johnson

Before he was “The Professor” on Gilligan’s Island, Johnson was actually a lieutenant bombardier for the U.S. Army Air Forces. He served during World War II earning various decorations for his time in the military, even a Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged as first lieutenant in 1945, subsequently joined the Reserves, and used the G.I. Bill to pay for acting school. He, too, was typecast in due to his role in Gilligan’s Island, but has accepted the fact and was still able to maintain a sufficient acting career in television.