Russell Johnson on the high price he paid for starring in Gilligan's Island

Johnson didn't have any idea what he was getting himself into.

#russelljohnson #royhinkley #theprofessor #professor #gilligansisland #gilligan #bobdenver #tinalouise #dawnwells #alanhalejr #skipper #maryann #ginger #typecast

Source: metv

[RandalSterling]

My grade school friend’s mom Connie married Russ and we would hang out with them, me leading sing alongs with my guitar. Great guy, very good man. I remember he had on the wall a framed movie still of Russ and Ronald Regan in a western. Never did find out the movie or TV show it was from. Edit: it’s on his Wikipedia page Law and Order, 1953 film, opposite Ronald Reagan.

[barbaraparker]

Russell Johnson was a handsome man. He should have been given more of an opportunity to prove his talents.

[byronbrewer]

George Reeves' biggest complaint with Superman.

[marlenepearson]

It's weird that some people get totally type cast. Others don't.

[mymix]

Great video. Russell Johnson did great on Gilligan's Island. Also appeared on The Twilight Zone . Always thank you
Melanie

[stuartaaron]

Along with Caroll O'Connor, Buddy Ebsen, and Andy Griffith managing to play completely different roles, one that truly stands out was Larry Hagman. From playing the nice Major Anthony Nelson in "I Dream of Jeannie" he went on to play the evil J.R. Ewing in "Dallas."

[jons.]

Probably because kids were the main audience! I can remember being at a friend's house as a kid and they had a movie on TV that Dawn Wells appeared in and when I saw her I shouted "Hey! It's Mary Ann!" Haha!

[AnnieVanAuken]

Russell Johnson was hardly a star of that show. The first year his character wasn't even named in the title sequence. He and Dawn Wells were reduced to "and the rest" in that opening song's lyrics. It took Bob Denver fighting for their recognition to change the lyrics in Season 2.

[josephosheavideos]

Ironically, Russell Johnson lived his last years on an island: Bainbridge Island near Seattle. Interestingly, Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show, " did much the same thing. The New York-born Bavier actually moved to a small town in North Carolina in her later years and is even buried in the hamlet of Siler City, NC.

[oldgoat]

If you listen to the intro in the first season, he and Marianne were listed "and the rest."
I remember him being the heavy in the years prior to this show. He did pay a price for a steady paycheck.

[michaelcase]

Johnson spent time in the 90s in Seatle working in dramatic radio working for Jim French productions.
Richard Sanderson who played Les Messnan on WKRP also worked with Jim French.

[markw]

Gilligan’s Island, cancelled in 1967, on TV networks forever. Kind makes you wonder about the decision to cancel it and not bring it back. Just how empty do you have to be to be a network executive?

[tailgunnerhikes]

Or he adopts a "if you can't beat it, flaunt it" strategy and does cameos in any film having a university setting and eventually auditions for the role of "Dr. Jones" in a little action flick

[Josef-nv]

I am surprised Young Sheldon was not a fan of the professor. He recharged the radio battery using a coconut. Beat that Professor Proton!

[teresewecker]

I saw an interview with russell johnson, , He said when the show was canceled unexpectedly He said he was very disappointed, , He said he liked the work.He didn't mind going to the set every day, ,

[DeniseEverett-eu]

It is to bad he was type cast as the character, thanks for the video Bob.

[beenbeatenbybishops]

Without a doubt, he did pay a high price. There is no one who could have played the "Professor" better. It showed him to be a really great actor. I realize that does not translate to dollars and sense or fame, but it is, above all, the measure of a talent. It says a great deal about him, that he played the role to perfection and did so to bring laughter, relaxation and wholesome, yet silly, entertainment to people he did not even know. The "type cast" problem is not limited to acting. It cuts across all plains.

[tojo]

Carrol O'Connor, Buddy Ebsen and Andy Griffith were far better known, long before their first sitcom shows...Most people already knew who they were by name and face. The professor not so much... Same with Max Baer Nobody really knew who he was prior to the Beverly Hillbillies. I remember going back and recognizing Russell Johnson in three or for things he had done prior to Gilligan's Island, but THAT show is what made him "famous" I guess you could say... So he wasn't really known for anything else... It's hard to say if Russel or Max would have gone on to bigger and better things if they hadn't landed their sitcom roles they are known for... It's hard for me to find empathy, but I can see what they meant to a degree... Neither of them were prominent enough actors to really pass on these sitcom opportunities.... I myself don't think either of them messed up by taking what were no doubt the biggest contracts they'd been offered so far... I'd say that's the name of the game.

[frankmcfarlane-em]

max jethro made a fortune producing macon county line...he was set for life...didnt need acting jobs

[craigpierce]

Yep, smart cookie on the show. Could seem to make/re-purpose anything. His bane seemed to be boat repair!