Actor. He is best remembered for his role as "Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr." in the 1960s television comedy series "Gilligan's Island." A graduate of Girard College in Pennsylvania, he served in the Second World War as a bombardier in the United States Army Air Forces. He was shot down over the Philippines in March 1945, receiving a Purple Heart for breaking both his ankles. In addition to his Purple Heart, he was also the recipient of several distinguished military awards including the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star, the World War Two Victory Medal and three service stars. Honorably discharged as a commissioned officer following the war, he entered the Army Reserves, utilizing the GI Bill to pursue an acting career. His early film work was primarily focused on western classics and science fiction roles. He made his film debut in the 1952 motion picture "For Men Only." His other notable film credits include: "Loan Shark" (1952), "Seminole" (1953), "Law and Order" (1953), "It Came from Outer Space" (1953), "The Stand at Apache River" (1953), "Tumbleweed" (1953), "Johnny Dark" (1954), "Many Rivers to Cross" (1954), "This Island Earth" (1955), "God Is in the Streets" (1956), "Courage of Black Beauty" (1957), "Attack of the Crab Monsters" (1957), "The Space Children" (1958), "Badman's Country" (1958), "The Lawman" (1959), "A Distant Trumpet" (1964), "Cry for Poor Wally" (1969), "Hitch Hike to Hell" (1977), "Sammy" (1977), "The Great Skycopter Rescue" (1978), "Off the Wall" (1983), "Blue Movies" (1988) and "Hellbender" (1996). His numerous television credits include: "The Lone Ranger," "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin," "You Are There," "The Silent Service," "The Twilight Zone," "Route 66," "Ben Casey," "Wagon Train," "Laramie," "Rawhide," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Outer Limits," "The Invaders," "The Big Valley," "Death Valley Days," "Lassie," "That Girl," "Marcus Welby M.D.," "Ironside," "Gunsmoke," "Mannix," "Police Story," "Wonder Woman," "Bosom Buddies," "The Jeffersons," "Dallas," "MacGyver," "Newhart," "Dynasty," "Knots Landing" and "Rosanne." He appeared in the daytime soap series "Days of Our Lives" and "Santa Barbara," and also appeared in several made for TV reunion movies involving the cast of Gilligan's Island, following the series cancellation in 1967. At the conclusion of his acting career in the late 1990s, he moved to Bainbridge Island in Washington state, where he remained active in voice over and commercial work in the Seattle area. Following the death of his son David in 1994 from AIDS, he became a volunteer activist in HIV research and fund raising activities. In 1993 he co-authored the book "Here on Gilligan's Island," sharing personal memories of his work on the popular television series. He died at his Bainbridge Island home from kidney failure.
Actor. He is best remembered for his role as "Professor Roy Hinkley, Jr." in the 1960s television comedy series "Gilligan's Island." A graduate of Girard College in Pennsylvania, he served in the Second World War as a bombardier in the United States Army Air Forces. He was shot down over the Philippines in March 1945, receiving a Purple Heart for breaking both his ankles. In addition to his Purple Heart, he was also the recipient of several distinguished military awards including the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star, the World War Two Victory Medal and three service stars. Honorably discharged as a commissioned officer following the war, he entered the Army Reserves, utilizing the GI Bill to pursue an acting career. His early film work was primarily focused on western classics and science fiction roles. He made his film debut in the 1952 motion picture "For Men Only." His other notable film credits include: "Loan Shark" (1952), "Seminole" (1953), "Law and Order" (1953), "It Came from Outer Space" (1953), "The Stand at Apache River" (1953), "Tumbleweed" (1953), "Johnny Dark" (1954), "Many Rivers to Cross" (1954), "This Island Earth" (1955), "God Is in the Streets" (1956), "Courage of Black Beauty" (1957), "Attack of the Crab Monsters" (1957), "The Space Children" (1958), "Badman's Country" (1958), "The Lawman" (1959), "A Distant Trumpet" (1964), "Cry for Poor Wally" (1969), "Hitch Hike to Hell" (1977), "Sammy" (1977), "The Great Skycopter Rescue" (1978), "Off the Wall" (1983), "Blue Movies" (1988) and "Hellbender" (1996). His numerous television credits include: "The Lone Ranger," "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin," "You Are There," "The Silent Service," "The Twilight Zone," "Route 66," "Ben Casey," "Wagon Train," "Laramie," "Rawhide," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Outer Limits," "The Invaders," "The Big Valley," "Death Valley Days," "Lassie," "That Girl," "Marcus Welby M.D.," "Ironside," "Gunsmoke," "Mannix," "Police Story," "Wonder Woman," "Bosom Buddies," "The Jeffersons," "Dallas," "MacGyver," "Newhart," "Dynasty," "Knots Landing" and "Rosanne." He appeared in the daytime soap series "Days of Our Lives" and "Santa Barbara," and also appeared in several made for TV reunion movies involving the cast of Gilligan's Island, following the series cancellation in 1967. At the conclusion of his acting career in the late 1990s, he moved to Bainbridge Island in Washington state, where he remained active in voice over and commercial work in the Seattle area. Following the death of his son David in 1994 from AIDS, he became a volunteer activist in HIV research and fund raising activities. In 1993 he co-authored the book "Here on Gilligan's Island," sharing personal memories of his work on the popular television series. He died at his Bainbridge Island home from kidney failure.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
Family Members
Advertisement
