What was the name of the character known as “The Professor” on the sitcom Gilligan’s Island?

What was the name of the character known as “The Professor” on the sitcom Gilligan’s Island?

The correct answer is Roy Hinkley. On the beloved 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island, “The Professor” was portrayed by actor Russell Johnson. His character’s full name, Professor Roy Hinkley, Ph.D., was a science teacher and inventor whose remarkable intellect helped the stranded castaways survive countless mishaps on their tropical island.

Gilligan’s Island aired on CBS from 1964 to 1967 and became one of television’s most enduring comedies. The Professor was known for his calm demeanor and resourcefulness, famously building radios, washing machines, and even lie detectors out of bamboo and coconuts—though he somehow could never repair the S.S. Minnow to escape the island.

Johnson’s portrayal made “The Professor” a pop-culture archetype of the ingenious, level-headed scientist. He appeared alongside Bob Denver as Gilligan, Alan Hale Jr. as The Skipper, and other iconic characters like Ginger, Mary Ann, and The Howells. Despite being canceled after only three seasons, the show’s reruns and reunion movies turned it into a lasting television legend.

Fun fact: Russell Johnson later joked that he was often recognized more as “The Professor” than by his own name—proof of the character’s cultural impact.