Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dead at 89

Jan. 16, 2014, 3:21 PM EST
By Josh Dickey
TheWrap

Russell Johnson, who played the professor on "Gilligan's Island," died Thursday morning, his agent confirmed to TheWrap. He was 89.

Johnson died at his home in Washington state of natural causes, his agent, Michael Eisenstadt said.

Born in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, Johnson graduated from a private boarding school for orphaned children before joining the Air Force, flying dozens of combat missions in World War II -- including one that turned him into a real-life castaway in the Philippines in 1945. Johnson's B-25 bomber was shot down by heavy flak; he broke both his ankles during the mission, and received the Purple Heart.

Read more:

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=847737

(snip)