Russell Thorson (October 14, 1906 – July 6, 1982[citation needed] ) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his co-starring role as Det.

[3] He starred in a later version (1949–1952) of the radio series, I Love a Mystery, as Jack Packard, alongside Jim Boles as Doc and Tony Randall as Reggy.

[4] His other radio parts included the title roles in The Tom Mix Ralston Straightshooters[5]: 336  and Dr. Paul[5]: 101  and Bart Friday in Adventures by Morse.

[6] Thorson had small roles for film and television in Double Dynamite (1951), with Jane Russell, Groucho Marx and Frank Sinatra, Dangerous Mission (1954).

[citation needed] He appeared in guest-starring roles in such television series as Maverick (as the stalwart Marshal Walt Hardie in a James Garner episode titled "Day of Reckoning"), Gilligan's Island, Tales of Wells Fargo, Trackdown, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke (as Mr. Brady in “Chester’s Mail Order Bride” - 1956), Lassie, Peyton Place, and The Virginian, and is also known for his role as a ship captain in "Cocoon", the pilot episode of CBS's original Hawaii Five-O with Jack Lord.