Russell Johnson, 'Gilligan' professor, has died

[Valin]

AP: 1/16/14

 

NEW YORK (AP) Actor Russell Johnson, who became known to generations of TV fans as "The Professor," the fix-it man who kept his fellow "Gilligan's Island" castaways supplied with gadgets, has died. He was 89.

 

Johnson died Thursday morning at his home in Washington State of natural causes, said his agent, Mike Eisenstadt.

 

Johnson was a busy but little-known character actor when he was cast in the slapstick 1960s comedy about seven people marooned on an uncharted Pacific island.

 

(Snip)

 

 

 

 

More Here

[Valin]

Wikipedia: Russell Johnson

 

Military career

 

After high school, in the midst of World War II, Johnson joined the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He flew 44 combat missions as a bombardier in B-24 Liberator bombers. While flying as a navigator in a B-24 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his plane and two other B-24s were shot down in the Philippines in March 1945 during a low level bombing and strafing run against Japanese targets. The planes were hit by intense flak and had to ditch in the waters off the port of Zamboanga. During the ditching, he broke both his ankles and the radioman next to him was killed. Johnson earned a Purple Heart for this mission. He was also awarded the Air Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one service star, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged with the rank of first lieutenant on November 22, 1945. He then joined the Army Reserve and used the GI Bill to fund his acting studies at the Actors Lab in Hollywood.[1] At acting school, he met actress Kay Levey; they married on July 23, 1949.

[Geee]

So, before he passed on did he settle the question - Mary Ann or Ginger?

[Valin]

So, before he passed on did he settle the question - Mary Ann or Ginger?

I was always a Mary Ann guy.

 

From what I understand Tina Louise (Ginger) was not well liked by the cast/crew of the show.