Occupation: Parapsychologist

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: None

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, California 

First Appearance: Encounters With The Unknown (1973)

History: Dr. Johnathan Rankin is an American parapsychologist, psychic researcher and anthropologist with an interest in American history and folklore and over forty years as a paranormal researcher.

Not much is known about his past, but it is known he studied Physics, Human Biology and Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, later getting his doctorate in Anthropology at the University of Nevada. However, the bulk of his interest was in mythology and ancient cultures and in the Fifties, he began dabbling in parapsychology and researching paranormal activity. In his research, he studied under Dr. David Ash of the Psychic Research Center for Paranormal Study in England, parapsychologist Dr. Vincent Cochet of New York City and American demonologist Plato Zorba from Los Angeles.

In his career, Rankin stuck to a purely scientific approach with an emphasis on history and geography. Eschewing the perceptions of psychics and mediums as infallible, he published over thirty books on the subject of ghosts and psychic activity and developed the theory that many if not all of these cases were somehow connected by location and contact. He also had seven books about legend and culture in a broad length of topics including vampire lore, historical werewolves, witchcraft legends in the United States and the public fascination in the supernatural.

Although he socialized with many women in his career, he never married. Considered married to his work, he did share his life and home with Marsha White, an interior decorator. He passed away in 1978.

Case Files: Mount Holly Cemetery, Old Tisdale Farm, Old Pine Bluff Bridge, et al.

Powers/Abilities: Dr. Johnathan Rankin was a brilliant scientist with degrees and doctorates in physics, medicine and anthropology. He was well-versed in American and European history with books in myths and legends.

Comments: Dr. Johnathan Rankin is a fictional character mentioned briefly in the film, "Encounters With The Unknown' (1973).