(CNN) -- Actor Russell Johnson, best known as Professor in the 1960s TV sitcom "Gilligan's Island," died Thursday, his agent said. Johnson was 89.

Johnson played the iconic role of Professor Roy Hinkley, whose scientific schemes to get the castaways rescued were always foiled by Gilligan's bumbling.

He died at his home in Washington, where he lived with his wife, Connie. She and their daughter, Kimberly, were at his side, said agent Mike Eisenstadt. Johnson is also survived by a stepson, Court, and a grandson, he said.

Johnson worked up until his death, signing autographs over the holidays, said Eisenstadt. He called Johnson's death "unexpected."

He was "just a positive and nice guy" who always treated people with respect, his agent said.

His acting career began in the early 1950s with many jobs as a character actor on television. He played Marshal Gib Scott in two seasons of "Black Saddle," a Western that ran in 1959 and 1960.

Johnson acted in dozens of television shows after the four seasons on "Gilligan's Island," but his career seemed stranded on its own island because of the popular sitcom role.

A noteworthy big screen role was the 1955 science fiction film "This Island Earth." Similar to the story of the shipwrecked passengers and crew of "Gilligan's Island," Johnson played a nuclear physicist involved in building a rocket to take survivors of a doomed Earth to another planet.


Johnson was in Ray Bradbury's 1953 sci-fi classic "It Came From Outer Space."

Before becoming an actor, Johnson served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was on a B-24 Liberator when it was shot down during a bombing raid over the Philippines in 1945, according to his official biography, and used his G.I. Bill benefits to pay for acting school after the war.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/16/showbiz/russell-johnson-obit/

Awwww

sipppppppppppppperrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, rip Russell Johnson rip also for Mr.Kincade of The Partridge Family.

His GI Benefit wasted.

No need for heartless comments on here.

Wow great thread so much info I didn't know. War hero, actor, nice guy, good family man, the world needs more people like this man. RIP God bless.

Oh wow...

What a great man...

Hey, a cousin of mine met the Professor.

Here, see for yourself:

http://youtu.be/DY7EsBpclsg



Seriously, the YouTube video shows the last time that Russell Johnson portrayed the Professor.

In a Facebook post, Dawn Wells writes,

"A picture of Russell and his lovely wife Connie. Russell was a true gentleman, a good father, a great friend, and "the rest".
I love him and shall miss him. My heart goes out to Connie and his daughter Kim. I love you."


Also,


"My 2 favorite people are now gone. The Professor past away this morning. My heart is broken."

True, no propaganda, family oriented shows and actors are an extinct breed.

Everyone, set time aside to watch "Surviving Gilligan's Island", the show about the making of Gilligan's Island.
Bob Denver, Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells tell the story of how their show became what it is.

http://youtu.be/JnjkfZ47w_M

Hi,new here.....I was thinking he already died a few months back.
Looks likeI was wrong,I never realized what a handsome man he was,until now....I read that he left this world peacefully,I'm glad of that. RIP

I heard about this yesterday and was deeply saddened. The television show airs daily here, not sure I can watch this week without a box of tissues... now two in the beloved show of my childhood gone. RIP

Watched it, loved it, thank you for posting the link

I found a photo that Gilligan's Island fans will appreciate. In it are Gilligan's Island creator Sherwood Schwartz, Dawn Wells, Tina Louise, Bob Denver and Russell Johnson.



Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

I was wrong about the last time that Russell Johnson portrayed the Professor.

The last time that he portrayed the Professor was in a short-lived TV show called "Meego".

The series only lasted for 6 episodes in the USA before being cancelled.

Episode 7 (which was not shown on U.S. television) has a scene that features the Professor along with Gilligan and Mary Ann.

Here is a hyperlink to the YouTube video showing the scene featuring the Professor.

http://youtu.be/IKm3X1CXFi4

Here is a link to recording of one of the few shows that all of the Gilligan's Island cast appeared in together.

http://youtu.be/3ya4FMB45tY

Gilligan's Island cast as the cast of Roseanne:

http://youtu.be/07Dgpwu0q1U