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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.
Being labeled as one thing your whole life can get tiring. Yes, to be well-known can be an envied position to be in, but it can also be limiting for people to look at you and only see you as one thing.
This seemed to be the situation for a majority of the actors in the main cast of Gilligan's Island. Such was the double-edged sword of a popular television program; the cast enjoyed success, but they were only recognized and appreciated as their characters. This had to have gotten old fast, especially after 1967, when the show was unceremoniously canceled. But just because Gilligan's Island was over didn't mean that the cast members' careers had ended as well...or did it?
In a 1993 Seattle Post-Intelligencer interview, Russell Johnson doesn't quite express regret at being on Gilligan's Island, but he comes pretty darn close. Johnson played Roy Hinkley, more commonly known as The Professor, whose intelligence lent itself well to creating certain inventions on the island that have led to some of the most memorable moments on Gilligan's Island.
"Knowing what I know now, that it cost me roles long after the show went off the air, I think I would have gone in another direction," Johnson said. It wasn't that the Professor was a bad role; simply that it was a role that would follow Johnson around for the rest of his life, especially in a casting office.
"I was so connected with the character that they'd look at me, shake their heads and say, 'That's the Professor, the public won't believe him as anyone else,' and give the role to another guy," he said. "It was a difficult time, I was quite distressed at the way my career was — or wasn't — going."
Luckily, Johnson was able to find success in another sphere by leaning back into Gilligan's Island. He wrote a book about his time on the series, entitled Here on Gilligan's Isle: The Professor's Behind-the-Scenes Guide to Gilligan's Island. The book was a success, and luckily, Johnson did eventually persevere in his acting career.
"I didn't want to give up my hard-earned career, so I just kept on trying," he said. "It finally worked."
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For those who are interested, RJ also appeared pre-GI with a pre-BEWITCHED Dick York on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (Season 2, episode 29, titled VICIOUS CIRCLE---very interesting seeing both RJ and DY in non-comedic roles).
Typecasting is a thing, but we could present just as many or more examples of actors that were in defining roles yet went on to do many things. Same with age, a lot say they weren't wanted as they get older, yet we can name hundreds of older actors.
There are 3 stages to all the G. Island cast;
1. We loved them when on the show.
2. It's over they wish they could've moved on.
3. They are now icons again and we love them even more, nostalgia.
Russel's book is a good read, fun.
