Bob Denver was an American actor who is best known for his roles as Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island, Maynard G. Krebs in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and Dusty in Dusty’s Trail. He was born on January 9, 1935, in New Rochelle, New York, and passed away on September 2, 2005, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Personal and Family Life
Bob Denver was married four times and had a total of four children. His first marriage was to Maggie Ryan, and they had two children together before divorcing in 1966. He later married Jeanne Carole Webber, Carole Abrahams, and finally Dreama Perry Denver, who remained his wife until his death.
Career
Denver started his acting career while studying at Loyola-Marymount University and initially worked as a mailman and teacher. He became well-known for his role as Maynard G. Krebs on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis before achieving fame as Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island. After the show ended, he appeared in various TV shows and films, including Dusty’s Trail and several reunion specials.
Death and Legacy
Bob Denver died on September 2, 2005, due to complications from surgery for throat cancer. He spent his final days in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is remembered for his iconic roles in television. His legacy lives on through his work, especially as the lovable Gilligan, a character that has remained popular in reruns and pop culture.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Rescue from Gilligan’s Island | 1978-10-14 | Gilligan |
| Who’s Minding the Mint? | 1967-09-26 | Willie Owens |
| Take Her, She’s Mine | 1963-11-13 | Alex |
| High School U.S.A. | 1983-10-16 | Milton Feld |
| Surviving Gilligan’s Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History | 2001-10-14 | Himself |
| The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West | 1976-08-01 | Dusty |
| The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island | 1981-05-15 | Gilligan |
| The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island | 1979-05-03 | Gilligan |
| For Those Who Think Young | 1964-06-01 | Kelp |
| A Private’s Affair | 1959-08-14 | MacIntosh |
| The Sweet Ride | 1968-06-12 | Choo-Choo Burns |
| Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis | 1988-02-21 | Maynard G. Krebs |
| Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? | 1968-07-14 | Bertram Webb |
| The Invisible Woman | 1983-02-13 | Dr. Dudley Plunkett |
| Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis? | 1977-05-10 | Maynard G. Krebs |
| Back to the Beach | 1987-08-07 | Bartender |
| Rescue from Gilligan’s Island: Trivia Edition | 2022-01-03 | Gilligan |
| The Simpsons | 1989-12-17 | Bob Denver (voice) |
| Gilligan’s Planet | 1982-09-18 | |
| The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | 1959-09-29 | Maynard G. Krebs |