Gilligan’s Island‘s Russell Johnson passed away from kidney failure on Thursday. He was 89.
Russell was a little-known character actor when he was cast as Roy Hinkley — or “The Professor” — in Gilligan’s Island. He spent the following three seasons as the island’s resident MacGyver. But, as he later joked, he was never able to patch the S.S. Minnow’s hole.
Dawn Wells, who starred as Mary Ann Summers, paid tribute to her fellow castaway with a Facebook post on Thursday.
“My 2 favorite people are now gone,” Dawn said in the caption of a photo of her, Russell Johnson and Bob Denver. “The Professor past away this morning. [sic] My heart is broken.”
Dawn added Russell was “a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend, and ‘the rest.'” That is a nod to Gilligan’s Island‘s original opening, which referred to Mary Ann and The Professor as “the rest.” Bob Denver — who played Gilligan — later insisted upon credits for Dawn and Russell.
Russell is survived by his wife, Connie, daughter, Kimberly, and step-son, Courtney. His son, David, passed away from AIDS in 1994.
In terms of the Gilligan’s Island cast, Russell is only survived by Dawn and Tina Louise, who played Ginger. The show continues in syndication and will air on TV Land next week.
