- Russell Johnson, Gilligan’s Island, TV, 1964-1967. ”It was the first time in my adult life that I remember weeping. And I think part of that has to do with the fact that I built this thing up to such a degree it was going to be my breakthrough.” But after the pilot, Gabriel was dropped for looking too young to be a professor. Bizarre as Professor Hinkley was teaching at a high school, not a university. Never mind, Gabriel made good in the following decade(s), scoring 726 episodes of Ryan’s Hope during 1975-1989 – compared to Johnson’s 98 Gilligan chapters.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 1