Obituaries - 16 January 2014

Russell Johnson, Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' Dies at 89

Russell Johnson, best known as Professor Roy Hinkley on Gilligan's Island, died Thursday of kidney failure. He was 89.

  "He died at home, peaceful, in his sleep at 5:21 a.m. today," his wife, Constance, told ABC News. "[He was] a very brave guy who knew what he wanted, and he wanted to be at home."

  Johnson portrayed the Professor in the classic comedy from 1964-67, appearing in 98 of the show's 99 episodes. Johnson was a busy but little-known character actor with credits that included This Island Earth and It Came From Outer Space when he was cast in the slapstick comedy about seven people marooned on an uncharted Pacific island.

  During its three-season run on CBS, critics lambasted the show. But after its cancellation, it found generations of new fans in reruns and reunion movies.

  In later years, Johnson remained "proud" of the role and its influence on viewers.

  "I think, what I love most at this point in time in the long life of Gilligan's Island is the positive, intelligent nature of longtime Gilligan aficionados," he wrote on his website. "It amazes me. I have received mail throughout the years from young viewers from all over the world, year after year, who were so influenced by the Professor's smarts that they became science buffs and are now real professors, doctors and scientists. It makes me proud."

  Johnson was the last surviving male star from the show.

  And Dawn Wells (who played fellow castaway Mary Ann), referring to her and Johnson's billing on the show, said, "and the other half of 'The Rest' is gone.

  "Russell was a true gentleman, a dear friend with fantastic wit and a wonderful actor. I am heartbroken and will miss him terribly."

  Wells, 75, noted that she will be attending a boat show next week in Vancouver that will feature the original S.S. Minnow from the series, now restored and used for charitable events. "I am hoping that we can do something to remember Russell at that time," she said.

  Johnson continued to work steadily through the 1990s, including in several Gilligan's Island TV movies along with appearances on such TV shows as Lassie, Newhart, Gunsmoke, Dynasty and Roseanne.

Dave Madden who played long-suffering band manager Reuben Kincaid passed away at 82.

  Canadian-born American actor Dave Madden, who played long-suffering band manager Reuben Kincaid on the ’70s sitcom “The Partridge Family,” has died. He was 82.

  Madden died of congestive heart failure and kidney failure on Thursday morning following a long illness.

  In addition to his run as Kincaid on “The Partridge Family” — a role he portrayed from 1970 to 1974 — Madden also had a steady role on the sitcom “Alice,” playing Mel’s Diner customer Earl Hicks.

  Madden also guest-starred on a number of series, including “Bewitched,” “Married With Children” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.”

Wizard of Oz munchkin Ruth Robinson Duccini Dies at 95.

  Ruth Robinson Duccini who played a Munchkin in the "The Wizard of Oz" has died at age 95 ... and now there's just one surviving little person from the flick.
  Ruth Robinson Duccini -- who stood 4 feet tall -- was the longest surviving female Munchkin ... she died of natural causes today at a hospice center in Las Vegas.
  Duccini received no screen credit for her role as a Munchkin townsperson -- she was one of 124 little people cast in the movie.
  Now ... only one Munchkin survives ... 93-year-old Jerry Maren -- who was a member of the famed Lollipop Guild.