The actor who played the Professor in "Gilligan's Island" has died ... TMZ has learned.
Russell Johnson, who played Professor Roy Hinkley, died of natural causes at his home in Washington.
Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann, just posted on Facebook, "My 2 favorite people are now gone. The professor past (sic) away this morning. My heart is broken."
The other person who died is Bob Denver, who played Gilligan. He died in 2005.
Johnson was on the show from 1964 to 1967.
Wells went on: "Russell was a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend, and 'the rest.'"
Johnson was married -- this was his third wife.
Johnson was 89.
1 comment:
Posted on Bronze Age Babies last night, here's my short, endearing story about Mr. Johnson, WWII Veteran/Actor..:
Being a big fan of the show, especially him, I found his website where he sold autographed photos about 10yrs ago. So I placed an order and it came a week later.
Under my name he wrote what looked like 'E fonte vitae alte haurias', but the coolness was that he didn't translate it.
So I quickly found a latin dictionary which translated it basically to 'From Life Springs Knowledge'. So frickin' cool.
So near Thanksgiving that year, I wrote his email address, told him I work for our nations veterans (and also in the Reserves as an Army Major at that time) and I thanked him for playing his role so well, teaching that the right answer is only a 'right question away', stuff like that.
Well, just before Thanksgiving, he wrote me back, addressing me as 'Sir' and mentioned he was a WWII aviator who flew flights over Germany (13th AAF), thank me for my service and wished my family a Happy Thanksgiving.
I was gobsmacked how personable he was, and it was so surreal to have him call me 'sir'...
Sorry, getting a bit choked up just writing this.
..I hate when our heroes pass on.
They're.. not supposed to do that.
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